Survivor of crash that killed 3 pals filmed himself inhaling laughing gas while driving at 90mph hours before horror
A SURVIVOR of a crash that killed three of his pals filmed himself inhaling laughing gas while driving at 90mph before the horror.
Rafel Jeanne, who was driving at the time, was killed alongside Darcy Ross and Eve Smith, both 21.
Passengers Sophie Russon, 20, and Shane Loughlin, 32, were injured during the crash in St Mellons, Cardiff, in March but survived.
The five friends were discovered around 46 hours after the Volkswagen Tiguan they were travelling in left the road and smashed into trees on a roundabout.
Loughlin appeared on crutches at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court today where he admitted dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.
South Wales Police confirmed the offences are not connected with the crash that unfolded later that night at 2.03am.
The court heard he was filmed inhaling a balloon with no hands on the wheel as he drove the car on the M4 hours before the March 3 tragedy.
Investigators found four videos in total that showed Loughlin filming himself in the car that later crashed.
He could be seen swerving between lanes at between 80 and 90mph and obscuring his view of the road with the nitrous balloon.
Prosecutor Sophie Pennifold said Loughlin had been banned from driving since July 2022 having been convicted of drug driving.
She added: “”The videos show the driver doing balloons and filming while driving the vehicle with a balloon held to his mouth and pressing the button on his mobile phone to flick the view of the camera to the front of the vehicle.
“This meant using no hands, or one hand with a mobile phone in it on the steering wheel.
“The balloon is not small and would have likely obstructed the view of the road.
“It shows the vehicle travelling along the M4 with the vehicle at various times between 80-90mph – the fuel light, airbag warning light and seatbelt warning light are all illuminated.”
Court papers this month revealed the group had been drinking alcohol and inhaling nitrous oxide before the tragedy.
They had been on a night out at The Muffler social club in Maesglas, Newport, before making their way to the Trecco Bay Caravan Park in Porthcawl around 40 miles away.
After leaving the site, the friends were last seen at about 2am in the Pentwyn area of Cardiff, dropping off a sixth member of their group.
The details emerged from a closed-doors court hearing held for Joel Lia, who had been driving the Volkswagen Tiguan an hour before the crash.
He has been charged with driving without a licence or insurance in Porthcawl but the case is being dealt with by magistrates under a single justice procedure.
This means a magistrate will decide the case without it going to open court as the charge is seen as a minor criminal offence.
Detective Constable Joanne Mahony said Lia, 28, admitted driving the car on the M4 around an hour before he was dropped off – even though he didn’t have insurance.
The officer took a signed statement from him where he admitted driving without holding a full UK licence.
The court papers state: “All other persons in the vehicle were intoxicated, by Joel’s admission, as they had been drinking alcohol and inhaling nitrous oxide throughout the course of the evening.”
Lia admitted both charges and the case was adjourned until August 24.
The horror unfolded on March 4 as the friends made their way back from the night out.
A major hunt for the group was sparked after they were reported missing but it took two days to find the wreckage.
The car is understood to have left the road on a slip road on the A48 as it approached a roundabout.
Driver Rafel was the son of ex-QPR and Cardiff City player Leon Jeanne.
An inquest was opened and adjourned in March heard toxicology tests are still being carried out.
Gwent Police and South Wales Police are currently subject to an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over how long it took to find the car.
Loughlin was granted unconditional bail and an interim driving ban ahead of sentencing on September 5.
He previously paid tribute to his friends, saying: “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.”