Crash victims' families 'angry' as two officers cleared of misconduct
Shane Loughlin, Eve Smith, Sophie Russon, Rafel Jeanne and Darcy Ross (clockwise from top left) all lay undiscovered in their crashed car for two days
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The families of two women killed in a car crash in Cardiff two years ago say they are "hurt" and "disappointed" as two police officers have been cleared of misconduct.
Eve Smith, 21, and Darcy Ross, 21, died alongside driver Rafel Jeanne, 24, when their car crashed in St Mellons in 2023, leaving two other passengers badly injured.
The group were eventually found on 6 March - two days after a missing persons' report was first received by Gwent Police.
Two of the six officers the Independent Office for Police Complaints (IOPC) had confirmed would face a disciplinary process over the incident attended misconduct meetings on Tuesday, with the panel deciding they would face no further action.
Misconduct meetings are not open to the public, but it is understood one was a sergeant facing proceedings for failing to review all available information at the time of conducting a risk assessment for the missing women.
A police constable was also believed to have been facing misconduct for allegedly not carrying out adequate house searches.
Gwent Police confirmed that allegations against both officers had not been proven and that they "should undertake reflective practice".
Eve Smith, Rafel Jeanne and Darcy Ross died in the crash
The families of Ms Smith and Ms Ross, along with the family of Sophie Russon who survived the crash, had all made repeated appeals to find them over the course of the weekend.
The mother of one of the girls said she had even been told to stop contacting the police for updates.
The group were eventually found about 46 hours after the crash, their white Volkswagen Tiguan discovered deep in undergrowth near a roundabout.
Detectives confirmed those inside had been trapped for almost two days.
Ms Ross' family said the outcome of Tuesday's meeting had left them feeling "unheard, unseen, and let down".
In a statement, they said: "We have had to live not only with the grief of losing someone we deeply love, but also knowing they were left for almost 48 hours without the help or the dignity they deserve.
"No family should ever have to go through that."
Lauren Doyle, sister of Eve Smith, said she believed the meeting had "set the tone for the proceedings going forward".
"We do not feel we'll get justice through this process when Gwent Police are in charge of policing their officers," she added.
Members of Darcy Ross and Eve Smith's families, including (fourth and fifth from left) Darcy's mother Clare Ross and Eve's mother Emma Borg, attended the Gwent Police misconduct meeting
Four Gwent Police officers are still to face gross misconduct hearings, although a date for those has not yet been set.
The following officers face disciplinary proceedings:
A sergeant responsible for the investigation on 5 March for gross misconduct for their "supervision of the missing persons inquiry"
A PC for gross misconduct for allegedly failing to carry out basic inquiries including not recording and sharing information with a supervisor, and allegedly failing to communicate appropriately with family members who had reported their loved ones missing
Two PCs for gross misconduct after allegedly failing to conduct house searches as per policy and giving dishonest accounts to their supervisor and IOPC investigators about this
What happened in the St Mellons crash?
The three women had gone to The Muffler club in Newport's Maesglas area late on the Friday
They then travelled 36 miles (58km) to Trecco Bay Caravan Park, in Porthcawl, Bridgend county, with the two men
A first missing person report was made to Gwent Police at 19:34 on Saturday
A further missing person reports was made to the same force at 19:43 and 21:32 on Saturday
Another final missing person report was made to South Wales Police at 17:37 on Sunday
The accident happened after the white Volkswagen Tiguan the five were in left the carriageway and entered a wooded area
The group were not found until the early hours of Monday morning, almost two days after they were last seen
Everton Smith, pictured with his daughter Eve, was left devastated by her death
In a statement, Deputy Chief Constable of Gwent Police, Nicky Brain, said the force's "thoughts and condolences" were with the family and friends of Darcy, Eve and Rafel, "along with those who sustained injuries that night".
She added: "Improvements to the way we investigate missing people which were identified as part of the IOPC investigation have been implemented.
"Any further opportunities for learning arising from the misconduct proceedings will be addressed."
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