One of the two survivors from the horrific car crash in Cardiff has been left 'unrecognisable' from her injuries after she was trapped in wreckage for almost two days, her mum has revealed. Sophie Russon was one of the five victims in the fatal smash over the weekend which killed three of her friends as the 20-year-old lay in the undiscovered car next to her dead pals for over a day.
Her mother, Anna Certowicz has been by her daughter's bedside every day as she remains in critical condition after suffering a fractured skull and a bleed to the brain as well as breaking her neck and spine, the Mirror reports. Sophie, along with pals Eve Smith, Darcy Ross, Rafel Jeanne and Shane Loughlin had been travelling in a Volkswagen Tiguan from Porthcrawl to a nightclub in Newport on Friday evening when the crash occurred.
The smashed up vehicle was discovered in woodland of a dual carriageway in the St Mellon's area of the capital in the early hours of Sunday morning. Shane, 32 was the only other passenger to survive and also remains in a critical condition at the University Hospital of Wales.
Anna believes the impact of the collision left Sophie with burns from her seatbelt and that she was left suspended inside the car after it came to rest at a steep angle pointing downwards. Despite her awful injuries, Sophie miraculously survived the tragic accident along with Shane as they both lay alive beside their friends Eve, 21 Darcy, 21 and Rafel, 24 for 46 hours.
Anna, 41, from Newport, said: “She doesn’t know where she is or what happened. 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. You can't recognise her.”
Her heartbroken mother says Sophie would have been 'petrified' laying there for almost two days with such horrific injuries. She said: “She was in the car with bodies all around her, that’s a lot for anybody.
“She was in a small space, cold, scared stiff and not able to reach her mobile phone. There’s no words to describe it. I can’t imagine how long it’s going to take for her to get over this.
"She’s going to need a lot of support. I’m heartbroken for the families of Eve and Darcy.
"They’ve lost a child at the end of the day, I nearly lost mine.” Both South Wales and Gwent Police have referred the case onto the Independent Office of Police Conduct.
It comes as questions have been raised as to why it took officers so long to find the car while Anna says she wonders whether the three deceased victims may have survived had they been discovered sooner. Anna alleges that police did not start a search for the friends straight away and told her to 'stop calling' as they said Sophie was 'probably out partying.'
Police have said that the three victims died on impact but she said 'the only people who will know that are Sophie and Shane'. She said: “Policemen on foot had searched the area but didn’t find anything.
"It was on a main road, next to a roundabout and opposite a garden centre. It doesn’t make sense.
"When I got to the scene of the crash there were 40 officers there. Where were they on Saturday when I first reported Sophie missing?”
A vigil was held at the scene of the crash on Tuesday night as mourners released balloons. 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." Assistant Chief Constable Jason Davies of South Wales Police said: “Our thoughts continue to be with the families and all those affected by this tragic incident.
"Specialist officers are carrying out a detailed investigation to piece together what has happened. Family liaison officers are supporting the families involved at what must be a hugely difficult time for them.”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
