Police pinpoint exact minute car carrying five friends crashed off road killing 3 and leaving 2 fighting for their lives
POLICE have pinpointed the exact minute a car carrying five friends crashed off a road – and are appealing for anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.
Cops say the car veered off the busy dual carriageway in Cardiff at 2.03am last Saturday morning and was there for 46 hours before being spotted just after midnight on Monday.
Friends Eve Smith, 21, and Darcy Ross, 21, were found dead along with Rafel Jeanne, 24.
Bank worker Sophie Russon, 20, and Shane Loughlin, 32, were still alive found badly injured in the wreckage next to their dead friends.
Both are being treated at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.
Police believe just one vehicle was involved when it crashed off the busy A48 dual carriageway in St Mellons, Cardiff.
Cops are now appealing for help from anyone who spotted the nine-year-old white VW Tiguan in the moments leading to the tragedy.
Their appeal comes after a sixth person gave police a “full account” of his last hours with five friends before a car crash tragedy where the three were killed and two left fighting for their lives.
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Friend Joel Lia, 27, was dropped off just a short time before the car veered off a busy road into woodland in Cardiff – and was not found for another 46 hours.
Mr Lia has “fully co-operated” with police investigating the tragedy at the end of a night out where the six went to a seaside caravan park after drinking in a nightclub.
Officers are trying to piece together the group’s movements in the build up to the crash and are combing through CCTV and number plate recognition cameras for the white VW Tiguan driven by Mr Jeanne.
A police spokesman said: “The families of Rafel Jeanne, Darcy Ross and Eve Smith, who died in the collision, continue to be supported by specialist family liaison officers.
“Post Mortem examinations are ongoing. Two further people remain at the University Hospital of Wales.
“Following extensive enquiries, which have involved studying CCTV and number plate recognition cameras in the area, the time of the collision has been confirmed as 2.03am on Saturday, March 4.
“The white Volkswagen Tiguan vehicle left the carriageway into a wooded area.
“Detectives investigating the collision are now appealing for anyone who was in the area or who may have been travelling east along the A48 Eastern Avenue between Cardiff and the St Mellons off slip which links to the roundabout of the A48, B4487 and Cypress Drive (near Blooms Garden Centre) who may have dashcam footage from this time to come forward.
“They also want to speak to anyone who was travelling in this area and may have seen the Volkswagen Tiguan.”
Police say the appeal is for witnesses who may have seen the vehicle and there is no suggestion that another vehicle was involved in the collision.
Assistant Chief Constable Jason Davies of South Wales Police said: “The investigation is making good progress in piecing together the events leading up to the collision. Specialist officers will continue to carry out a detailed investigation which will enable us to provide the facts of what happened during the early hours of Saturday morning.
“Our thoughts continue to be with the families and all those affected by this tragic incident.
“Family liaison officers are supporting the families involved at what must be a hugely difficult time for them.”
The last confirmed sighting was at 2am on Saturday when Mr Lia was dropped off in nearby Pentwyn, Cardiff, just two miles from the scene of the tragedy.
A source said: “He has been cooperating fully with the officers in the case and is understandably very upset by the events of that night.”
He was with Mr Jeanne, Mr Lia and Mr Loughlin who met Eve, Darcy and Sophie in a social club known as The Muffler in Newport on Friday night.
They later got into the nine-year-old car and drove 38 miles to Porthcawl where Mr Loughlin has a caravan.
There was an alleged noise complaint at the Trecco Bay camp but officers “don’t believe it played any major part” in the later events.
Mr Jeanne was a “very close friend” of Mr Lia and they had been out the night before the tragedy.
Mr Lia told friends he was dropped near his home before they left him to fill up with petrol and headed to Newport to take the three girls home.
The five were not discovered in the overturned car until just after midnight on Monday.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hoborough of Gwent Police said: “This is an extremely sad situation, and our thoughts are with the families and friends of each of the young people involved.
“We will continue to support the investigation and would ask members of the public to refrain from speculation during this period.”
Gwent Police and South Wales Police will be investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct over their handling of the case.