The family of a victim killed in a car crash in Cardiff have asked for police to be given "time and space" to investigate the incident. Eve Smith, 21 from Newport was found dead with Darcy Ross, 21 and Rafel Jeanne, 24, on Monday morning after they went missing around 48 hours earlier.
Sophie Russon, 20, and Shane Loughlin, 32, survived the crash, which happened off the A48 near St Mellons in Cardiff, but are in a critical condition in hospital. In a statement, released by the family's solicitor on Tuesday afternoon, the family of Eve Smith described it as an "extraordinarily difficult time".
Read more: Floral tributes pour in at crash scene where three were killed
ITV news reported the statement said: "We request that our privacy is respected and we are allowed to grieve in peace...Please note we are not going to speak to the media for the foreseeable future. Please do not try to contact our family and friends either in person or via social media.
"We want to allow Gwent Police and South Wales Police the time and space to investigate the matter in a thorough and professional way and to enable the Independent Office for Police Conduct thereafter to come to their own conclusions."
Ms Smith’s death comes eight years after her sister Xana Doyle, 19, was killed in a car crash. The driver was twice the drink-drive limit and prosecuted. Ms Smith took part in a Sky TV documentary with her other siblings, mum Emma and stepdad Tony Borg about the incident and campaigned for tougher sentences.
After the Volkswagen Tiguan was located in the early hours of Monday morning, Gwent Police and South Wales Police forces referred themselves to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
On Monday evening, South Wales Police said investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the incident, including when the collision took place. A statement added: "The five individuals were the subject of enquiries by Gwent Police following a missing person report made during the evening of Saturday 4th March. A subsequent missing person report in respect of one of the individuals was made to South Wales Police on Sunday 5th March. Referrals have been made by Gwent Police and South Wales Police to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The last confirmed sighting of the five was during the early hours of Saturday morning."
Specialist officers are supporting the families of those involved and enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information has been asked to call police on 101, or send them a direct message, quoting 2300071791.
READ NEXT:
- Tributes paid as loved ones name victims of A48 crash that killed three
- Mum of young woman involved in car crash asks why it took so long to find them
- Man from Wales tries to kill woman at London Underground station by pulling her towards oncoming train
- Weather charts show exactly when and where it is forecast snow this week in Wales
- Woman drives at policeman at scene of serious crash
