Tributes to three who died after car crash on night out
TRIBUTES have been paid to the three people killed in a crash that left two others seriously injured.
Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, and Rafel Jeanne, 24, died in the accident while Sophie Russon, 20, and Shane Loughlin, 32, survived.
All five were in a Volkswagen Tiguan that came off the A48 in Cardiff and crashed into trees where it lay unseen for up to two days before being discovered near a garden centre at St Mellons in the early hours of Monday.
Friends Sophie, Eve and Darcy had been on a night out at the Muffler bar and club in Maesglas, Newport, on Friday evening before they are thought to have headed to Trecco Bay in Porthcawl.
The friends were with Shane Loughlin and Rafel Jeanne, from Cardiff, and the five were last seen in the Llanedeyrn area of Cardiff at 2am on Saturday.
Over the weekend their families and friends had appealed for information because their disappearance was so out of character. They carried out their own searches and made various appeals on social media.
Tributes were paid on social media, with family members confirming their loved ones had died.
One relative of Miss Smith, who is understood to be the sister of Xana Doyle, who was killed when a car in which she was a passenger flipped over at 60mph in January 2015, wrote: “I will not comment on anyone other than Eve Smith to confirm that she has been confirmed as deceased. Thank you for your support and shares and I won’t be answering messages please allow us some time as a family to digest this terrible news x.”
A friend of Miss Ross and Miss Smith wrote: “I don’t really have the words right now.
“Darcy Ross I’m going to miss you little gypsy girl. You were one of a kind, I’m going to miss trying to ‘life coach’ you as you would’ve said. You were a real ray of sunshine especially on my bad days.
“Eve Smith you were truly a beautiful young girl, whose heart was made of gold just like your sister’s, give her a big hug for me and hold each other tight until the day we all have our turn and reunite.”
A friend of Mr Loughlin posted: “I’m so proud of us all pulling together out there searching for our dear friends last night.
“It’s heart breaking what’s happened to Rafel Jeanne and those two girls. My body is still shaking and I can’t stop being sick the thought of them all there all of that time.
“Many times I have driven past, it just makes me so sad and to how helpless our Shane Loughlin must of felt trapped inside.
“Wish Sophie a speedy recovery and I send all my love and strength to all the families involved.”
The car was discovered shortly after midnight on Monday in the St Mellons area of the capital, South
Wales Police said.
It is understood a helicopter searching for the car found it.
Three people were found deceased while two others were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Officers believe the car was involved in a road traffic collision and came off the A48 at a roundabout that links to the A48 (M) but it is not clear exactly when that happened.
The road was closed in both directions, near to the Cardiff Garden Centre, by the police.
Photographs from the scene show large green fencing and tarpaulin has been put up around the crash site, which is among trees.
People have also started arriving to leave floral tributes to those who died.
One wrote: “Fly high. You’re in a better place now. This was a last thing we expected. I know you’re still partying up there. Have one for me LOL.”
Another said: “RIP Darcy.”
And a second tribute left by the same person said: “RIP Eve.”
Speaking at the scene, a friend of the three girls claimed it was members of the public searching who found them and not the police.
Tamzin Samuels, 20, said: “I do think the police could have done a lot more in putting the helicopters out earlier.
“They only posted the appeal an hour before the girls were found. We found them before the police found them – we rang the police.
“The search party found the girls before the police found the girls.
“I think that speaks volumes really, they had all that equipment, and we had cars when we were looking.
“They were really popular girls, the life of the party, and it was really out of character for them to do what they did, which is why we knew something was wrong.”
Miss Samuels, a carer from Dyffryn, paid tribute to her friends.
“They were the life of the party. Darcy was known as a wild child, loved life and lived life to the fullest and she didn’t care what anyone thought about her. She was great,” she said.
“Eve had a smile that could brighten a room as soon as she walked in. A real feisty, independent girl, but everyone loved her just as much.
“I didn’t really know the boys and one of our friends who is recovering, we just really hope for her on the road to recovery.”
Meanwhile, Thomas Taylor, 47, from the Rumney area of Cardiff, was arrested at the scene for prevention of breach of the peace, police said.
It is understood he was arrested after being asked to leave the area.
Speaking before he was arrested, Mr Taylor, a film and TV extra, said: “When I heard the reports, I just couldn’t believe it could be possible that a car could come off and no-one know they were there.
“I still don’t understand it.
“It worries me, and I feel for the families because from what I can see from the reports they did have a feeling something was wrong and they were flagging it up. Their instincts were correct.
“I have some fears that perhaps when the reports came they had gone missing, people thought, ‘Oh, it’s just a night out’. It’s natural they might have disappeared for a bit but the families’ instincts are right.”
A Gwent Police spokeswoman said: “Three of those who were reported missing have been found deceased, two have been taken to hospital with serious injuries.
“Specialist officers are supporting the families of those involved and inquiries are ongoing. The case has been referred to the IOPC in line with normal procedures.”
An IOPC spokesman said: “We can confirm that Gwent Police have advised us that they are making a referral in connection with this tragic incident and we will carry out an assessment in due course to determine what further action may be required from us.”