A MUM has told of her fury after police took two days to find her daughter who was trapped in a car with three of her dead friends.
Sophie Russon lay helpless for 48 hours next to Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, and Rafel Jeanne, 24, who did not survive the crash.
Sophie is fighting for her life in hospital along with Shane Loughlin, 32.
The friends had been enjoying a night out in Newport, Wales on Friday night when they vanished.
Gwent Police yesterday morning confirmed a car had been found, with three of the five friends tragically killed and two seriously injured.
Now Sophie’s mum has slammed the force for how they handled the search for her daughter and her friends.
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Anna Cerowicz made her first call to Gwent Police on Saturday lunchtime after Sophie failed to come home.
She made 10 calls that day but police kept telling her not to worry and that she was probably out partying.
She told the Daily Mail: "They didn't seem to care. I had to drive to Cardiff to knock on doors myself because they were doing sod 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 wouldn't just vanish like this unless something was wrong."
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Anna made a further 10 calls on Sunday and she claims the police told her to stop ringing.
Gwent Police suddenly escalated the inquiry later that day and a helicopter was launched to search the area.
By that time more than 200 people were out looking for the five friends.
By midnight on Sunday a woman searching with her dog discovered the car and alerted police.
Anna says while she was searching for her daughter — unaware she was trapped in the wreckage of a fatal car crash — she drove past the scene three times.
She said: “I drove past three times.
“Sophie was 20 yards away lying there scared, next to her friends who were dead.
“But I didn’t see her because of the trees and there was a dip.
“She was lying there wondering if help would ever arrive.
“She must have thought she was going to die.
“She was calling out at times but no one could hear her.
“It would have got light and then dark as night fell on Saturday, then she had to go through that again until she was found.”
Sophie was drifting in and out of consciousness with a bleed on the brain.
Anna said: “She had head injuries so she may not have really known what was going on — at least I hope she didn’t.”
It comes after police have referred themselves to a watchdog for an investigation.
Today Assistant Chief Constable Jason Davies of South Wales Police said: “Our thoughts are with the families of all those affected by this tragic incident.
“Specialist officers are carrying out an investigation to piece together what has happened.
“Family liaison officers are supporting the families involved at what must be a hugely difficult time for them.
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“To ensure independent oversight, South Wales Police has referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, as is usual in these circumstances.”
A spokesperson added that “investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the incident, including when the collision took place”.
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