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The child who died after a car was driven onto a rugby pitch in Cumbria was a 10-year-old girl, police have confirmed.
Police were called to Kendal Rugby Union Football Club on Shap Road just before 5pm today following reports of a collision between a black BMW i40 and two children.
The driver, aged 40 from Lancaster, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He’s still in custody.
A second girl, aged eight, was taken to hospital where she remains this morning. Her injuries are not life threatening.
Detectives are treating it as an isolated incident and said on Thursday ‘there is no indication to suggest this was a deliberate act’.
The BMW appears to have crashed through metal fencing surrounding the playing area from a neighbouring car park before landing on the pitch about 4ft below.
The vehicle then travelled about a quarter of the width of the pitch.
Police say they are supporting the families of both girls, who are both from Kendal.
Mr Denney, whose son attends the GT7 Football Academy which holds training sessions at the rugby club, said he had ‘no idea’ how the car got on to the field.
He told the BBC: ‘It was just sheer panic. It was just not very nice at all.
‘The children were obviously scared but the coaches dealt with it really, really well.
‘Last night there was a lot of families here that pulled together to give support to the mum and dad and friends of the [victims].’
Cumbria Police are continuing their investigation into the incident, and a cordon is still in place at the rugby club.
Cones have been put in place near the gap in the fence, where bunches of flowers have been left as tributes.
The buckled fencing is still visible.
A coach at Kendal United, who did not wish to be named, was among those to lay tributes.
He said: ‘It’s just a tragedy, it’s absolutely shocking, this shouldn’t happen, kids have just come to play a game of football.
‘I know a lot of the kids that come here, I know a lot of the coaches. I spoke to one or two last night, they are devastated, absolutely devastated.
‘You bring your kids down here to have a game of football and training, that’s what you do. You don’t expect anything like this to happen. It’s obviously a tragic, tragic thing. Horrendous.
‘The amount of children who would have been here last night who witnessed it, the trauma they probably will go through, you can’t even bear to think what they are going through. Just awful.
‘My heart goes out to the coaches, the kids and the families.’
Kendal Rugby Club’s chairman Dr Stephen Green said in a statement on Wednesday: ‘We are deeply saddened to confirm that an incident occurred today at Kendal Rugby Club, resulting in a tragic loss of a child’s life.
‘Our thoughts are with their family and friends and we kindly ask for privacy for all involved at this difficult time.
‘We are cooperating fully with the authorities as they conduct their investigation – the Club and all facilities are temporarily closed while this is carried out.’
Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, said: ‘This is devastating, utterly heartbreaking news.
‘I’m praying for the children and for their families and friends. Our community in Kendal is stunned and in mourning.’
A spokesperson for the North West Ambulance Service said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the child who sadly passed away following an incident in Kendal this afternoon.
‘We attended the scene at Kendal Rugby Union Football Club, responding with two ambulances and several senior clinicians.’
Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact police by reporting online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it, quoting incident number 195 of 5 March.
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