Hundreds gather at site of crash that killed three for vigil

Hundreds gather at site of horror crash that killed three and critically injured two more for fireworks vigil as anger grows that survivors who waited two days for rescue weren’t found sooner as police watchdog launches investigation

• Family and friends were seen letting off fireworks, smoke flares and balloons
• Tributes have also been flooding in across social media for the three who died

Hundreds of people have attended a vigil in Wales for three people who were found dead and two others critically injured two days after a car crash on the weekend. 

Family and friends were seen letting off fireworks, smoke flares and balloons, as well as bringing flowers and other tributes to the site of the crash in St Mellons, Cardiff.  

They gathered to mourn the death of Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, and Rafel Jeanne, 24, who were all found dead on Monday morning after a car they were travelling in crashed into a wooded area off the A48 two days earlier. 

Sophie Russon, 20, and Shane Loughlin, 32, were also involved in the crash but survived and are being treated in hospital for serious injuries.

Tributes have also been flooding in across social media and a fireworks display also took place on Monday evening in memory of those who died.

Family and friends were seen letting off fireworks, smoke flares and balloons, as well as bringing flowers and other tributes to the site of the crash in St Mellons, Cardiff

They gathered to mourn the death of Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, and Rafel Jeanne, 24, who were all found dead on Monday morning after a car they were travelling in crashed into a wooded area off the A48 two days earlier

Eve Smith, 21, (pictured) is among those who died in the crash in St Mellons, Cardiff, on Saturday

Darcy Ross, 21, (left) died in the car crash and Sophie Russon, 20, (right) is in critical condition in hospital

Shane Loughlin (left), 32, is in critical condition and Rafel Jeanne, 24, (right) was killed in the accident 

The mourners held a two-minute silence which was followed by a firework display in memory of the three who died in the crash.

Paul David, 56, from Newport, said he didn’t know the group personally but attended the vigil to show his respects. 

He told WalesOnline he felt ‘really guilty’ because he passed the site of the crash while on a bus with his son on Saturday, who wanted to get off because he felt sick.

He said: ‘It does keep playing through my mind. I just keep thinking we should’ve got off the bus. Maybe if we got off the bus they would still be alive.’

The friends had been on a night out at the Muffler bar in Maesglas, Newport, on Friday evening and are thought to have headed to Trecco Bay, Porthcawl.

The last confirmed sighting of the five people was at 2am on Saturday 4 March in Pentwyn, having travelled there from Porthcawl.

They were reported missing to Gwent Police and South Wales Police over the weekend, but they were only discovered 48 hours after they were last seen.

Police confirmed a first missing person report was made to Gwent Police at 7.34pm on Saturday, with further missing person reports made at 7.43pm and 9.32pm.

The mourners held a two-minute silence which was followed by a firework display in memory of the three who died in the crash

People held pyrotechnics while the fireworks display was held following the two-minute silence 

The last confirmed sighting of the five people was at 2am on Saturday 4 March in Pentwyn, having travelled there from Porthcawl. Pictured: people attend the vigil on Tuesday

A further missing person report was made to South Wales Police at 5.37pm on Sunday.

The force said a police helicopter was requested at 11.50pm on Sunday to search an area of Cardiff, after which the Volkswagen car they were travelling in was found.

READ MORE: ‘Police took two days to find my daughter as she lay trapped beside her dead friends’

 

After delays, nearly 200 people went out in Cardiff searching for the missing people.   

But the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced today it was going to investigate police action relating to the five people who were found in the car on Monday.

IOPC director David Ford said: ‘My thoughts go out to the families and friends of those who have tragically lost their lives, to those who have been injured, and indeed to the many people who have been affected by this incident. 

‘After careful assessment of referrals from Gwent Police and South Wales Police we have decided to independently investigate how police responded to the missing person reports.

‘We will be examining what information police had, the grading given to any risk assessments, and the steps taken by police to locate the missing people prior to the Volkswagen Tiguan being found just after midnight on Monday. 

‘We will also consider what communication took place between the two forces and whether police action was appropriate and followed relevant policy and procedures. Our investigation is at a very early stage.

‘We will be contacting the families involved to express our sympathies, explain our role ,and set out how our investigation will progress. 

‘We are aware of the significant community concern about the tragic events that have unfolded and would like to assure everyone that we will conduct a thorough and timely investigation.’

 

 

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