A 47-year-old man has been charged with fraud in connection with a Cardiff crash that killed three young people and seriously injured two others. Neil Lewis, from Ely, was charged with fraud by false representation "in relation to an MOT for the vehicle," South Wales Police confirmed.
The Crash and Victims
Passengers Darcy Ross and Eve Smith, both 21, and driver Rafel Jeanne, 24, died after the Volkswagen Tiguan they were travelling in crashed at 2:03 a.m. on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in woodland in St Mellons, Cardiff. Two other occupants were seriously injured.
The vehicle was not discovered until two days after the crash, despite missing person reports. It was found deep in undergrowth near a roundabout on the A48.
Legal Proceedings
Lewis is due to appear at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on July 21. A South Wales Police spokesman said the alleged offence "was identified by officers investigating the fatal collision."
The Ross family issued a statement to WalesOnline: "We lost our loved one, Miss Darcy Ross, following a road traffic collision on March 4, 2023. Two other families lost loved ones in this collision. We understand that Mr Neil Lewis has been charged with fraud following an investigation conducted by South Wales Police into the collision. We do not wish to prejudice the outcome of these criminal proceedings. We are therefore limited in what we can say at this stage. We want justice for Darcy. We want the truth to come out about what caused her injuries and death. We want anyone who caused or contributed to her death to be held accountable."
Related Police Misconduct Hearings
Four Gwent Police officers face gross misconduct hearings in connection with the case in the coming months. The hearings are expected to examine the handling of the missing person reports and the delayed discovery of the crash site.
