Cardiff crash: Woman, 23, who lost two sisters in separate car tragedies feels 'empty'

A woman who lost two sisters in separate car crashes says she feels "empty" after the latest tragedy.

Eve Smith, 21, was one of three people who died in a car crash in St Mellons, Cardiff, Wales.

She was found dead alongside Darcy Ross, 21, and Rafel Jeanne, 24, while two others, Sophie Russon, 20, and Shane Loughlin, 32, were seriously injured and taken to hospital.

The five people went missing on Saturday morning after a night out and their Volkswagen Tiguan was not found by police until two days later.

The two police forces investigating the crash, South Wales Police and Gwent Police, have referred themselves to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC).

Their response was criticised by Ms Russon's mother, Anna Certowicz, who said police "didn't seem to think it was worth investigating".

Eve's sister, Xana Doyle, 19, was killed by a drug driver in a car crash in 2015.

Their sister, Sherridan Borg, 23, from Newport, Gwent, posted a tribute on Facebook on Monday.

She wrote: “Eve, My beautiful little sister I've cried laughed and fought with you every week, but I've never been without you.

“We always said, 'I got you always', but now I'm sat here feeling so empty because you're not here with me any more, and I can't accept this."

Eve was 13 when Xana was killed, while Sherridan was 15.

Xana suffered head injuries after the car flipped. It was being driven by Sakhawat Ali, then 23, who was high on cocaine and cannabis and twice the drink-drive limit. He was released after serving five years in jail.

Eve was 13 when her sister died. The family featured in a Sky documentary, This Is Our Family, in which they called for tougher sentences for dangerous drivers.

Watch: Tributes paid to three people killed in Cardiff car crash

Sherridan said of Eve on Monday: “There is no sister like you, you always made me feel so important, sending me messages to remind me how much you love me and I'd tell you just how much I loved you more.

“You saved me from so much Eve all the times I've been low it was you that I'd turn to, and now I'm feeling heavy because I couldn't save you.

“I know you're safe up there with our beautiful sister Xana but I was never ready to let you go, my body is aching without you, please watch over me."

The five had been to the Muffler social club in Maesglas, Newport, on Friday night, and were due to travel 40 miles to the seaside spot of Trecco Bay in Porthcawl.

Their families are angry that it took police two days to discover their vehicle, which came off the A48 dual carriageway into woodlands.

The three women in the crash all grew up in Maesglas and were friends since their days at school.

Both South Wales Police and the neighbouring Gwent force, who were leading the missing persons investigation prior to the discovery of the car, said they have referred themselves to the IOPC “in line with normal procedure”.

An IOPC spokesperson said on Tuesday: “We are urgently carrying out an assessment of referrals received yesterday from Gwent Police and South Wales Police to determine what action may be required from us.”

Watch: Aerial pictures show scene of Cardiff car crash in which three people died