The mother of one of two survivors of a car crash in Cardiff has said her daughter has been left ‘unrecognisable’ after undergoing life-saving surgery.
Sophie Russon, 20, is fighting for her life in hospital along with Shane Loughlin, 32.
Darcy Ross and Eve Smith, both 21, and Rafel Jeanne, 24, died in the smash in the early hours of Saturday after the group went missing following a night out in Newport.
They were last seen early Saturday morning and had been reported missing, but on Monday police found the crashed vehicle.
The group had been involved in a collision off the A48 in Cardiff. The car, a white VW Tiguan, was said to be 20 yards from a busy dual carriageway.
Anna Cerowicz told The Sun that her daughter, Sophie, was lying next to the bodies of three friends for 46 hours and was too injured to use her phone, and that police failed to respond when the group did not return from a night out on Friday.
The 20-year-old trainee bank manager had fractured her skull in the crash, which led to a bleed on her brain.
She was sedated in hospital after going through life-saving surgery.
Anna, from Newport, said “you can’t recognise” her daughter because of her injuries from the crash.
She told the Sun: “She had panic attacks throughout the night when she came round so they sedated her.
“She’s in shock and has a lot of injuries.”
Anna has also criticised police for the length of time it took them to find the car wreckage.
Both Gwent Police and South Wales Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, amid criticism the group weren’t found sooner.
On Monday night, Assistant Chief Constable Jason Davies, of South Wales Police, said: “Our thoughts are with the families of all those affected by this tragic incident.
“To ensure independent oversight, South Wales Police has referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, as is usual in these circumstances.” Trecco Bay Holiday Park was approached for comment.
Related links:
- Survivor of horror Cardiff crash called for help for two days next to three dead friends
- CCTV shows car group of friends were travelling in before three found dead in crash
- Drink-driver killed mum in one of ‘worst hit-and-run cases ever seen’ after dragging her body 900 metres
