Three people were declared dead at the scene of a car crash which left two others fighting for their lives, an inquest heard.
Rafael Jeanne, 24, Eve Smith, 21, and Darcy Ross, 21, died in the collision on the A48 (K) near the St Mellons area of Cardiff. Meanwhile, Sophie Russon, 20, and Shane Loughlin, 32, were badly injured and remain at the University Hospital of Wales.
The inquest at South Wales Central Coroner's Court heard how the give was discovered on Monday, March 6, roughly 46 hours after the crash happened at 2.03am on Saturday, March 4. Assistant coroner David Regan opened the inquest at a hearing in Pontypridd on Friday.
All three victims "were involved in a road traffic collision on the A48 St Mellons, Cardiff off-slip and were declared deceased at the scene". Family members identified the victims.
Post-mortems were carried out at the University Hospital Wales, however, pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbeatter did not provide a provisional cause of death and is awaiting further investigation into histology and toxicology. Mr Regan adjourned all three inquests pending further investigation with a date yet to be set.
The coroner added: “I extend my condolences to the families of Mr Jeanne, Ms Smith and Ms Ross.”
The group were on a night out at The Muffle social club in Maesglas, Newport, on Friday, March 3 and then travelled just under 40 miles to the Trecco Bay caravan park in Porthcawl where they are believed to have spent some time in one of the caravans on site.
They were last seen at about 2am in the Pentwyn area of Cardiff having dropped off a sixth passenger. After failing to return home, the victims were reported missing by family members.
According to Gwent Police, the first missing report was made at 7.34pm on Saturday, however, the force did not issue a missing persons appeal until 11pm on Sunday.
The five victims and the Volkswagen Tiguan they were travelling in were found by search parties just after midnight on Monday.
The car had veered off a slip road approaching a roundabout and come to rest in a small copse of trees, shielded from the view of other motorists, nearby houses and a busy garden centre.
In a tribute on Facebook, Ms Ross’s father wrote: “Words can’t describe the way I feel losing you so young, memories of my beautiful baby to the stunning lady you turned into – your smile I will never forget and will cherish forever.
“Your sense of humour, personality and beautiful face is something Dada will cherish forever.”
Mr Jeanne’s sister Ffion Actie told Sky News she was “heartbroken”, describing her brother as “happy, loving, bubbly, and very, very popular”.
A friend of the women involved in the crash, Tamzin Samuels, 20, told PA: “They were really popular girls, the life of the party. Darcy was known as a wild child, loved life and lived life to the fullest and she didn’t care what anyone thought about her. She was great.
“Eve had a smile that could brighten a room as soon as she walked in. A real feisty, independent girl, but everyone loved her just as much.”
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