Cardiff crash: Mum of victim says police ‘weren’t bothered’ when she reported her missing

The mother of Sophie Russon spent Sunday searching for her missing daughter in Cardiff after officers told her to stop asking for updates.

A mother who spent hours searching for her missing daughter who was involved in the fatal car crash in Cardiff had been told to stop calling police for updates, it has been claimed.

Sophie Russon, 20, is fighting for life after a crash that killed three of her friends and left her and another critically ill in hospital.

Russon’s mother Anna Certowicz, 42, said she spent Sunday night driving around the Gwent and Cardiff areas in a desperate search for her daughter – after police officers told her to “stop ringing” the station for updates.

On Monday morning the five friends were found in a wrecked car which had lain undiscovered for 46 hours before police located it.

The bodies of Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, and Rafel Jeanne-Actie, 24, were found in the wreckage. Bank worker Russon, 20, and 32-year-old Shane Loughlin, were rushed to hospital after they were found badly injured next to their dead friends.

Police have not formally confirmed the victims’ identities but friends have paid tribute on social media.

Certowicz said she had been told to stop calling police as she demanded updates on the investigation into the group’s disappearance after a night out on Friday.

She was quoted as saying: “They didn’t seem to care. I had to drive to Cardiff to knock on doors myself because they were doing s*d all. They just didn’t seem to think it was worth investigating. It was so frustrating.

“I think they assumed that Sophie was hungover somewhere, but she’s a sensible girl who works in a bank and hasn’t taken a day off for three years.

“She’s not someone who’s out clubbing in Cardiff all the time. On Friday nights she’s more likely to be babysitting so other people can go out.

“She wouldn’t just vanish like this unless something was wrong.

“The police asked me to stop ringing but at the end of the day I’m a mum I’m going to worry. Her little sister is worrying too, she’s only 13 and she’s wondering where Sophie is.”

Tributes poured in for the friends who had been to a nightclub in Maesglas, Newport, and were due to travel 40 miles onto the seaside spot of Trecco Bay in Porthcawl.

Friend Alessia Scaccia wrote: “They were found” with a heartbreak emoji.

She added: “RIP Raf, Darcy and Eve. Hoping Shane and Sophie have a fast and full recovery with the support from the hospital.”

Rea Smith said: “I don’t really have the words right now. Darcy Ross I’m going to miss you little gypsy girl. You were one of a kind, i’m going to miss trying to ‘life coach’ you as you would’ve said. You were a real ray of sunshine especially on my bad days.

“Eve Smith you were truly a beautiful young girl, who’s heart was made of gold just like your sisters, give her a big hug for me and hold each other tight until the day we all have our turn and reunite.”

In a tribute to Rafel, Catherine Jonker said: “Known you since you were a young sweet cheeky boy heartbreaking R.I.P Rafel thinking of your beautiful sisters and brothers and mum and all your family at this devastating time no words.

“Thoughts and prayers also to the families of the two beautiful young girls who were also sadly taken too soon Eve & Darcy.”