Heartbroken mum slams police failings as six officers face misconduct listening to for taking two days to search out Cardiff automobile crash victims

A heartbroken mother has hit out at police after it was announced six officers would face misconduct proceedings for taking two days to find five car crash victims. 

The bodies Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, and Rafel Jeanne, 24, were discovered in the twisted wreckage of a VW Tiguan around 46 hours after they went missing during a night out. 

Sophie Russon, then 20, and Shane Loughlin, then 32, were still alive when officers finally reached them on March 6 2023, having spent two days critically injured next to their dead friends.

Their car had careered off the road and crashed into a cluster of trees on the A48 in the St Mellons area of Cardiff at around 2am on March 4.

But despite Gwent Police receiving the first missing persons report in relation to the group later that same day, at around 7.30pm, officers are accused of failing to treat the matter with sufficient seriousness. 

Now the police watchdog has announced that six officers should face disciplinary proceedings over the force’s response to the missing person reports. 

Responding to the announcement, Ms Smith’s mother Emma Borg said there were ‘serious ingrained failings’ that had robbed her daughter of a chance to live.

She said: ‘It is clear from the outset that the reports of the missing girls were not taken seriously and dismissed by Gwent Police.

‘As a family we have no closure, no real answers, no apology and absolutely no accountability from those who made a conscious choice not to follow the policies and procedures in place.’

In a tragic twist, Ms Borg lost her other daughter – Ms Smith’s sister – eight years earlier in a fatal collision caused by a drug driver. 

Ms Smith even appeared in a Sky TV documentary about the incident and campaigned for tougher sentences. 

Ms Borg said the 32-month wait for the report had been ‘arduous and distressing’ and that it had ‘eroded any faith and respect that was ever had for the force.’

‘We have provided evidence above and beyond what family members should have to provide,’ she added.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) had been investigating whether the reports, made between March 4 and 5, were appropriately risk assessed, reviewed and resourced.

Family members of those involved in the incident made more than 30 complaints to the IOPC regarding the actions and decisions by Gwent Police and South Wales Police. 

An IOPC spokesman said: ‘We determined that for more than half, the service provided was unacceptable, with recommendations for several officers and staff to take part in the reflective practice review process.’ 

It announced that gross misconduct proceedings would be brought against a sergeant for their supervision of the missing person investigation and a constable for failing to carry out basic inquiries.

Two other police constables will face gross misconduct proceedings for allegedly failing to conduct house searches adequately, then giving dishonest accounts to their supervisors and IOPC investigators.

Misconduct proceedings – which are less serious than gross misconduct proceedings – will be brought against a constable who allegedly failed to carry out a house search adequately and a sergeant who allegedly failed to review all available information when conducting a missing person risk assessment. 

Derrick Campbell, director of the IOPC, said: ‘Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the young people who tragically lost their lives, those who were left seriously injured and everyone affected by this incident.

‘This investigation has been complex and resource intensive, but it is important for public confidence in policing that this tragic incident was subject to thorough and independent scrutiny.

‘It will now be for a police disciplinary panel, arranged by Gwent Police, to consider the evidence and reach a decision based on all the available information.’

The IOPC said one of the two police constables who has a case to answer for gross misconduct for allegedly failing to contact house searches was also criminally investigated.

However it said it did not find sufficient evidence for the alleged offences, of misconduct in a public office and perverting the course of justice, to make a referral to the Crown Prosecution Service.

The group were discovered just after midnight on March 6, around 46 hours after the last contact from them.

The families of Ms Smith, Ms Ross and Ms Russon had all reported them missing on the evening of March 4.

Two people who were driving the Volkswagen Tiguan during the evening prior to the crash have since been convicted of motoring offences.

Mr Loughlin – a passenger in the car when it crashed – was jailed for dangerous driving and driving the vehicle while disqualified. 

Joel Lia was fined for driving the car without a licence or insurance an hour before the crash. He had left the vehicle shortly before the fatal collision.

An initial inquest hearing into the deaths of Mr Jeanne, Ms Ross and Ms Smith heard they were declared dead at the scene of the crash.

The inquest was adjourned to await the findings of further histology and toxicology tests.

Deputy Chief Constable Nicky Brain, of Gwent Police, said: ‘Our thoughts and condolences continue to be with the family and friends of Darcy, Eve and Rafel who tragically lost their lives and those who sustained injuries that night.

‘We acknowledge the impact that this investigation has had on them and understand how important the findings of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) will be to all those affected and the wider community.

‘We have fully co-operated with the IOPC in their investigation. It’s important that these matters were investigated thoroughly in an open and transparent manner.

‘We will now start the process to hold the relevant misconduct hearings and misconduct meetings.’