Cardiff crash yesterday: Family and friends criticize police for search for victims as tributes pour in

A mother who spent hours searching for her missing daughter who was involved in a fatal car crash in Cardiff has criticized police after she alleged she was told to “stop calling for updates”.

Concerns were raised when three women and two men went missing at the weekend, with family and friends of the group making repeated appeals to find them.

The women, Sophie Russon, Eve Smith and Darcy Ross, were seen traveling in a Volkswagen Tiguan with two men, Rafel Jeanne and Shane Loughlin. They were last seen at around 2am in Cardiff.

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The mother of one of the women — who remains in critical condition after the crash — claimed police told her to “stop calling” the station for updates.

Sophie Russons mother Anna Certowicz, 42, told the Daily Mail that something “must be wrong” after not hearing from her or her friends Eve Smith and Darcy Ross.

Ms Certowicz, 42, said she drove around Gwent and Cardiff in a desperate search for her daughter.

She said to the Daily Mail: “They didn’t seem to care. I had to drive to Cardiff to knock on doors myself because they were doing all the s*d. They didn’t seem to think it was worth investigating. It was so frustrating.

“I think they assumed Sophie was starving somewhere, but she’s a sensible girl who works in a bank and hasn’t taken a day off for three years.

“She’s not someone who’s out clubbing in Cardiff all the time. On Friday night she is more likely to be looking after children so others can go out. She wouldn’t have disappeared like this unless something was wrong.

“The police asked me to stop calling but at the end of the day I’m a mum and I’m going to worry. Her little sister is also worried, she’s only 13 and she’s wondering where Sophie is.”

Police watchdogs have confirmed he has received a self-referral from Gwent Police in connection with the fatal crash in Cardiff.

A spokesman for the Independent Office for Policing (IOPC) said: “We can confirm that Gwent Police have informed us that they are making a referral in relation to this tragic incident and we will assess in due course to decide what to do next. we may need action.”

South Wales Police and neighboring force Gwent Police, which led the missing persons investigation before the car was found, said they have referred themselves to the IOPC “as per standard procedure”.

A friend of two Cardiff crash victims paid a heartfelt tribute to the girls on social media. “I really don’t 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 say. You were a ray of sunshine especially on my bad days.”

Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, and Rafel Jeanne, 24, died after the Volkswagen Tiguan they were traveling in came off the A48(M) in the Welsh capital and crashed into trees.

Sophie Russon, 20, and Shane Loughlin, 32, who were in the same vehicle, also suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital.

The friend continued: “You really were a beautiful young lady Eve Smith, whose heart was made of gold just like your sister’s, give her a big hug for me and hold on tight until the day it’s our turn to all of us together.”

A friend of the victims of a fatal Cardiff car crash has criticized police search efforts, claiming members of the public found the vehicle before officers.

Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, and Rafel Jeanne, 24, died after the Volkswagen Tiguan they were traveling in came off the A48(M) in the Welsh capital and crashed into trees.

Sophie Russon, 20, and Shane Loughlin, 32, who were in the same vehicle, also suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital.

Police issued an appeal on Sunday and officials said the crashed vehicle was found early Monday morning.

However, a friend of the three women said the car was found by members of the public who were searching.

One friend, Tamzin Samuels, 20, was quoted as saying Sky News: “I think the police could have done a lot more to send the helicopters out sooner. They posted the appeal only an hour before the girls were found.

“We got them before the police got them – we called the police.

“The search party found the girls before the police found the girls. I think that really speaks volumes, they had all that equipment, and we had cars when we were watching.”

CCTV images have been released of the car carrying a group of friends before a horror crash that killed three people.

Sophie Russon, 20, Eve Smith, 21, and Darcy Ross, 21, were spotted in the early hours of Saturday, having partied at the popular Muffler bar in Newport before heading to Trecco Bay in Porthcawl.

The women were later seen traveling in a white Volkswagen Tiguan, as shown in the CCTV images, with two men, Rafel Jeanne, 24, and Shane Loughlin, 32, both from Cardiff, who were also reported missing.

Before Sophie Russon and her friends were found, her mother Anna Certowicz was driving around Gwent and Cardiff in a desperate search for her – claiming she was told by Gwent Police to stop calling to “stop calling” the station to for updates.

My colleague Thomas Kingsley the full report is:

Tributes have been paid on social media to Eve Smith, Darcy Ross, and Rafel Jeanne, who died in the crash, and to Sophie Russon and Shane Loughlin, who were hospitalized with serious injuries.

One relative of Miss Smith wrote: “I will not comment on anyone other than Eve Smith to confirm that she is confirmed deceased. Thank you for your support and sharing and I will not be responding to messages please give us some time as a family to read this terrible news x.”

A friend of Miss Ross and Miss Smith wrote: “I’m really at a loss for 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 say. You were a ray of sunshine especially on my bad days.

“Eve Smith was truly a beautiful young lady, with a heart made of gold just like your sister’s, give her a big hug for me and hold on tight to each other until the day we all have our turn and that comes together again.”

A friend of Mr Loughlin said: “I’m so proud of all of us pulling together out there looking for our friends last night. What happened to Rafel Jeanne and those two girls is heartbreaking. My body is still shaking and I can’t stop feeling sick when I think about all of them all that time.

“I’ve driven past it many times, it makes me very sad and how helpless Shane Loughlin felt when he was stuck inside. I wish Sophie a speedy recovery and send my love and strength to all the families involved.”