Two young women and one man who died after a car crashed off a Cardiff road and wasn't found for two days have been named by heartbroken loved ones. Another woman and man who were in the car remain seriously ill in hospital. You can follow the latest updates on this story by going here and you can recap what's known so far in this piece.
Friends Sophie Russon, Eve Smith, and Darcy Ross 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 been appealing for information because their disappearance was so out of character. They carried out their own searches and made various appeals on social media. The car they were in was found crashed 48 hours after they were last seen near the A48 at St Mellons just after midnight on Monday.
Tributes have been paid to Eve Smith and Darcy Ross, from Maesglas, and Rafel Jeanne, from Cardiff, who died in the crash. Sophie Russon and Shane Loughlin are in a critical condition in hospital.
Throughout the day flowers and tributes have been laid at the scene near to where their car was discovered. A local resident from Maesglas, where Sophie, Eve, and Darcy lived, said the whole community was shocked and saddened by the news and the loss of youngsters in the community. It has been reported that they had been close friends since they were 10.
One relative of Miss Smith, who is understood to the be 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, who's 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 heartbreaking 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.”
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."
Tributes have also been paid to Rafel Jeanne. One said: "Rip lil raf can’t believe what’s happened gutted for your family and your brother thoughts go out to your family at this devastating time fly high. Thoughts go out to the rest of the families with the loss of there loved ones."
A Gwent Police spokesman 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."
The road was closed in both directions, near to the Cardiff Garden Centre, by the police. Photographs from the scene showed large green fencing and tarpaulin erected around the crash site, which is among trees.
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