A 47-year-old man has been charged with fraud by false representation in connection with a car crash that resulted in three fatalities and two serious injuries. The incident occurred in March 2023, and the vehicle was found in woodland in St Mellons, near Cardiff.
Neil Lewis, from Ely, Cardiff, is accused of fraud relating to the MOT of the Volkswagen Tiguan involved in the crash. South Wales Police identified the offense during their investigation into the fatal collision. Lewis is scheduled to appear at Cardiff Magistrates Court on July 21.
The crash claimed the lives of Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, and Rafel Jeanne, 24. Two other occupants, Sophie Russon, 20, and Shane Loughlin, 32, sustained critical injuries and were transported to the hospital. The group was last seen together around 2:00 AM GMT on March 4, 2023, following a night out.
Concerns grew when family members reported the five individuals missing on the evening of March 4. The first missing persons report was filed with Gwent Police around 7:30 PM that day. Appeals for information were made by family and friends throughout the weekend. The vehicle was eventually discovered just after midnight on March 6 in the St Mellons area. The white Volkswagen Tiguan had veered off the road and become concealed deep within undergrowth near a roundabout, leading to a 46-hour delay in finding the occupants. Rafel Jeanne was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash.