Cardiff car crash – latest: Police hit back at claims over missing search

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Police involved in the search for victims following the fatal Cardiff car crash have hit back at claims suggesting members of the public discovered the wreckage, not officers.

Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21 and Rafel Jeanne, 24, died after a Volkswagen Tiguan came off the A48(M) and crashed into trees. Sophie Russon, 20, and Shane Loughlin, 32, remain in critical condition.

The three found dead and two others seriously injured in the crash are reported to have lain in the wreckage for up to 46 hours before being discovered.

The victims’ loved ones have since accused South Wales Police and the Gwent force of not taking the missing person reports seriously, alleging the car was only found through their own search efforts.

In a joint statement, police said that shortly before midnight on Sunday, a police helicopter “was requested to search an area of Cardiff which resulted in a vehicle being located in a wooded area off the A48.”

Two officers in the area then arrived to discover the Volkswagen Tiguan, the statement said.

Show latest update

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Questions over police search as Cardiff car crash victims found two days after going missing

Questions have been raised over the police search for five young people who were found in wreckage of a car crash 46 hours after they went missing.

Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, and Rafel Jeanne, 24, died in the accident while Sophie Russon, 20, and Shane Loughlin, 32, remain in a critical condition in hospital, according to police.

All five were in a Volkswagen Tiguan that came off the A48(M) in Cardiff and crashed into trees in the St Mellons area of the city.

Thomas Kingsley has more:

Questions over police search for Cardiff car crash victims

Two neighbouring police forces involved in the case have referred themselves to the police watchdog

Emily Atkinson8 March 2023 16:00

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Thanks for following our live updates, we are pausing our coverage for the evening.

Katy Clifton8 March 2023 16:08

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