Police won't name driver of Cardiff car crash that killed three people

Police won’t name the driver involved in Cardiff car crash that killed three people and left two in hospital

• Eve Smith, 21, Rafel Jeanne, 24, and Darcy Ross, 21, died in the tragic crash
• Shane Loughlin, 32, and Sophie Russon, 20, were pulled alive from the wreckage
• Read: Survivor releases statement from hospital in tribute to his dead friends

Police have refused to reveal who was driving the car involved in a crash which left three people dead and two critically injured.

Eve Smith, 21, Rafel Jeanne, 24, and Darcy Ross, 21, were all killed in the crash on the outskirts of Cardiff on March 4.

Shane Loughlin, 32, and Sophie Russon, 20, were pulled alive from the wreckage – having spent two days lying injured next to their dead friends after their families’ concerns about their disappearance were ‘fobbed off’ by police. 

Mr Loughlin and Ms Russon are still in hospital.

The white VW Tiguan involved is thought to have belonged to Mr Jeanne, but he allowed other people to drive it. 

Pictured: Eve Smith, 21, and Rafel Jeanne-Actie, 24, who died in the crash 

Pictured: Darcy Ross, 21, who died in the crash

The scene in the St Mellons area of Cardiff where three people who disappeared on a night out died in a road traffic accident

South Wales Police have said they will ‘not be providing a running commentary’ on their investigation.

The three young women had been reported missing on Saturday after failing to return home from a night out in Maesglas, Newport.

Their friends and family have told how they were forced to launch searches themselves after claiming their concerns were dismissed by police.

It was not until the following day, just after 11pm on Sunday, March 5 that police finally put out a public appeal.

The car was found shortly after midnight the next day. It had crashed into trees at the side of the busy A48, on the outskirts of Cardiff, down a grassy bank.

Gwent Police and South Wales Police are both subject to investigations by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over their handling of the case.

Asked for an update yesterday, SWP referred to a statement issued on Friday, in which detectives appealed for anyone who was in the area or who may have dashcam footage from this time to come forward.

It said no other vehicle was involved and enquiries, which have involved studying CCTV and number plate recognition cameras in the area, confirmed the time of the collision was 2.03am on Saturday, March 4.

The young women, who had been friends since they were children, had gone to the Muffler bar and club, in Newport, together.

At some point in the evening they met up with Mr Jeanne and Mr Loughlin and a third man, Joel Lia, 27.

The six left the club together in the Tiguan and drove 38 miles to Trecco Bay where Mr Loughlin had a caravan but left following a noise complaint at the holiday park.

They then travelled back to Cardiff, where Mr Lia got out. The last sighting of the group was captured on CCTV at a petrol station in the Llanedeyrn area of the city. 

All communications and social media updates ended at about 2am on Saturday morning, moments before the crash.

Pictured: Sophie Russon, 20, who is seriously injured and is undergoing surgery 

Pictured: Shane Laughlin, 32, who is seriously injured 

Mr Loughlin, 32, a bouncy castle business owner, released a statement from his hospital bed at the weekend. 

In a message posted on a friend’s Facebook page, he wrote: ‘Only just found out what happened just want to say sorry to everyone and thank you everyone who helped with the search party and thank you for everyone wishing me well, I’ll be back soon, love you all.

‘Rip Rafel, Eve, and Darcy. Can’t believe it gutted is an understatement heart goes out to all families and friends of the people that has passed.

‘Long way to recovery mentally and physically but we’ll get there.’ 

Trainee bank manager Sophie Russon has undergone surgery for a bleed on the brain. She also suffered fractures to her neck, spine and face her mother said.

Inquests into the deaths of Miss Smith, a singer; Miss Ross, a beautician; and amateur footballer Mr Jeanne, who had recently been released from prison, have not yet been opened.

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