The mother of one of the young women involved in a car crash which left three people dead and two seriously injured has questioned why it took so long to find them. Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21 and Rafel Jeanne, 24, died after the crash on a major road between Cardiff and Newport. Sophie Russon, 20, and Shane Loughlin, 32, were hurt and taken to hospital.
They had last been seen in the Llanedeyrn area of Cardiff at 2am on Saturday but it was 12.15am on Monday before the car was found crashed off a roundabout on the A48. Over the weekend friends and family had mounted searches for the five as they became increasingly concerned at what they described as out-of-character behaviour. They say there had been no activity on social media and they had not contacted any friends or family since the early hours of Saturday morning.
Read more: Tributes paid to three young people who died in A48 crash
Miss Russon's mother Anna Certowicz, 41, says she was out in her car frantically searching for her daughter and passed the crash site near St Mellons three times, where the car appears to have been hidden from passing drivers by trees. There are also reports that it was a member of the public who found the wreckage but this has not been confirmed by police. There were reportedly around 200 people out searching. There is a vigil planned to pay tribute to the victims today.
Police have so far said they cannot comment while an investigation is pending. Both South Wales Police and Gwent Police have since referred the matter to the Independent Office For Police conduct. An MP said "rumours and things are circulating and sometimes it's quite tricky to actually establish the facts".
Ms Certowicz said her daughter was "conscious some of the time" in the car and had "called out but no one was close enough to hear her." She told the Daily Mail that she made 10 calls to the police on Saturday but was told not to worry. She claims police said she was "probably out partying" and said: '"They didn't take it seriously, they kept saying she's 20 and they are all probably out partying. I told them my daughter doesn't go out on three-day benders, she and her friends are good girls. It was out of character for all of them. I was ringing the police all through Saturday and Sunday but they didn't seem bothered. Then all of a sudden, I don't know what happened, but the police started ringing me asking for a photograph and a description."
Ms Certowicz added: "I feel terrible for the families of Eve and Darcy, they were all best friends and had known each other since they were small. It's too awful to imagine what she went through trapped in the car in the dark until it got light and then dark again over two days. Sophie was lying there for all that time, they could all have been found much quicker if the police had started searching straight away."
The first calls of concern to the police were on Saturday morning but it was not until 11pm on Sunday night, around an hour before the car was found, that Gwent Police put out a public appeal.
Ms Certowicz said trainee bank worker Sophie is critical but stable in hospital after undergoing surgery for a bleed on the brain and fractures to her neck, spine, and face. Friends have also questioned why it took so long for police to find the crashed car. Tamzin Samuels, 20, spoke at the scene on Monday saying that a search party out looking for her friends found the car and not police. She said: "They were not listening to us when we said this is not the girls. We know they like to party but they would never go out for that long and not contact any of us. Out of character and I think the police could have done a lot, lot more. No-one should have to bury their friends at 21."
Assistant Chief Constable Jason Davies of South Wales Police said: "Our thoughts are with the families of all those affected by this tragic incident. Specialist officers are carrying out an investigation to piece together what has happened. Family liaison officers are supporting the families involved at what must be a hugely difficult time for them. To ensure independent oversight, South Wales Police has referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, as is usual in these circumstances."
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