Tributes pour in for victims of a tragic car accident, while survivors remain in critical condition.

The community has paid heartfelt tributes to Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, and Rafel Jeanne, 24, who tragically lost their lives in a car crash near Cardiff. Sophie Russon, 20, and Shane Loughlin, 32, survived but are critically injured.

The Volkswagen Tiguan carrying all five individuals veered off the A48(M) in Cardiff and collided with trees. The three women were last seen in Cardiff after travelling from Porthcawl and Newport. Their families had reported them missing. The two men, both from Cardiff, were also reported missing separately.

The car was discovered early Monday morning in the St Mellons area by a search helicopter. South Wales Police confirmed three fatalities and two hospitalised survivors. Investigations suggest the vehicle left the road during a traffic collision, though the exact timing remains unclear.

Tributes flooded social media, with family and friends expressing their grief. Eve Smith’s sister shared: “You’ve always been my rock. I don’t know how to move on without you.” A friend of Darcy Ross and Eve Smith described them as “beacons of joy” who brightened everyone’s days.

Friends of Mr Loughlin praised the community’s search efforts: “The public united to search for our loved ones. It’s heartbreaking to know they were there all along.”

The crash site has been fenced off, and floral tributes now line the area. South Wales Police and Gwent Police have referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for review, following concerns over response times during the missing persons investigation.

IOPC officials confirmed that an assessment is underway to determine the next steps in evaluating police actions. Meanwhile, the community continues to mourn and offer support to the grieving families.