Pictured: nursery nurse killed in police pursuit after 'flying drone into Wandsworth Prison' with boyfriend

Acacia Smith died instantly in the crash and her partner Craig Kearney is fighting for life
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This is the first picture of a nursery nurse killed in a police pursuit after she and her boyfriend were suspected of flying a drone into Wandsworth Prison.

Acacia Smith, 25, from Acton, west London, died instantly when the silver hatchback skidded across the road, ploughed through garden walls and burst into flames.

Her partner Craig Kearney, 25, was heard sobbing and screaming her name as paramedics battled to save her life. He was today in hospital in a critical condition.

The police watchdog has launched an investigation into the smash, which happened shortly after 3am yesterday just north of Wandsworth Bridge in Fulham.

The wreckage of the crashed car after the police chase
Peter Manning/Alamy Live News

A four-propeller drone apparently was found in the wreckage of the mangled car, according to witnesses.

Shocked friends of Miss Smith today said they were mystified at the circumstances leading up to her death.

They said the “beautiful, inspirational” young woman, known as ‘Caysha’, had worked at various nurseries in Acton and had ambitions of opening a creche of her own.

Shanti Studholme, a bar worker from Acton, told the Standard: “We met as teenagers and she was one of the best people, she had the biggest heart and was devoted to her family.”

Kamara Rattrey, a close family friend, said: “Caysha had a way of bringing people together.

“She loved children and was passionate about helping them to learn. The thing she will be best remembered for is her mischievous smile and cheeky laugh.”

Mr Kearney’s sister Carly Kearney wrote on Facebook: “To all that may know, my brother and sister-in-law have been in a massive car crash.

Fatal crash: emergency services at the scene

“Sadly my loving sister-in-law is no longer with us and my loving brother is in hospital. All prayers and love from all around.”

Residents woken by the smash on Ashcombe Street at the junction of Wandsworth Bridge Road, said it was “like a bomb”.

Tony Plummer, whose front wall was smashed by the car, said: “I went into the front room and there was glass everywhere. I saw the blue lights of the police, the mangled car outside and the devastation.

“You could hear the driver screaming out her name and the police were telling him not to move. He was totally traumatised.

The couple was being pursued by police when their car crashed

“Firefighters arrived, cut the roof off the car and they were both pulled out.

“The paramedics were working on her in the street for at least half an hour and then they stopped and pulled the sheet over her. He was taken away in the ambulance.

The rehab therapist added: “You could see the drone when they turned the car back over. It had four propellers and was completely intact.”

The incident follows increasing concern about the use of drones to fly drugs and other contraband into prisons and comes weeks after a watchdog warned that the devices were being used to smuggle items into Pentonville jail.

In May, the BBC obtained CCTV footage from Wandsworth that showed a drone delivering a package containing drugs and mobile phones to a cell window while an inmate attempted to guide it in using sticks.

Scotland Yard said that it was unable to comment on the crash.

The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Police Complaints Commission have both been informed and an independent investigation is underway.

An HM Prison Service spokeswoman said: “On Tuesday 9 August, staff at HMP Wandsworth alerted the Metropolitan police to a drone flying in close proximity to the prison, as is standard practice. Police investigations are now under way and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

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