Three teenagers who were killed after a car collided with a bus in Coedely, South Wales, have been named by police as their families paid tribute.
18-year-olds Morgan Smith and Jesse Owen and Callum Griffiths, 19, were declared dead at the scene.
Two others have sustained life-threatening injuries.
Daniel Chalfont said on Facebook he was “literally broken” following the death of Morgan Smith.
“Literally the most perfect son you could ever wish for,” he said.
“Miss you so much already.”
In a statement through South Wales Police his family said: “We as a family are devastated by the loss of Morgan, we have been left with a void that can never be filled We love you our boy.”
Maerdy Boxing Club said in a statement that Mr Smith was the “Nicest person you could ever wish to meet”.
“Not only was Morgan a great person he was also a very talented Boxer becoming a Welsh Champion, representing Wales in the British Championships and also travelled to Ireland with us to box.
Jesse Owen’s family said: “Jesse had a presence that would light up any room. He was loved by all who had the honour of knowing him.
Image: Jesse Owen, 18, was described as “the most loving, happy kind, calm and beautiful soul.”
“He was the most loving, happy kind, calm and beautiful soul. He would do absolutely anything for anyone. He loved his family and friends and was loyal to the core.”
“Jesse loved his boxing, watches and socialising with friends.”
Callum Griffiths’ family said: “Callum had the most beautiful smile that would light up the room. He was the most precious gift of a son and our love is endless.
Image: Callum Griffiths, 19, was described as “the most precious gift of a son.”
“Our hearts have been broken into a million pieces, broken beyond repair. He was so loving and had a caring soul. He has left a hole in our hearts that cannot be filled.
“Callum was a world champion in Kickboxing and achieved numerous Gold medals and has represented Wales in different countries all over the world.
“We love you ‘Champ’.”
In a statement, South Wales Police said: “At around 7pm last night (Monday 11 December) emergency services were called to the scene of a serious road traffic collision involving a bus and an Audi A1 on Ely Valley Road, Coedely.
“Three men – two aged 18 and one aged 19 – were declared dead at the scene. Two further men, aged 18 and 19, were taken to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff with life-threatening injuries.
“Two other people were also treated for minor injuries.”
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The force previously asked for anyone with dash cam footage or who witnessed the collision to get in touch.
Graham Drew lives on nearby Gladys Street, and told Sky News: “It is a stretch of road that is quite dangerous.
“This was an accident waiting to happen.”
He said the community was “obviously very concerned about what has just happened”.
“We did open the community centre to ask people to go in and have a cuppa and I do believe that police spoke to the people there to communicate with the families related to the incident.”
Image: The scene in Coedely, near Tonyrefail, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Another local resident who did not wish to be named told Sky News she could see lights when she looked out of her bedroom window on Monday evening.
“Within five minutes, there was a woman trying to get down and they [Police] wouldn’t let her and she was screaming ‘My boy, my boy’,” she said.
“Everybody’s stunned. We’re just stunned. It’s terrible. No words for it.”
Danny Grehan, councillor for Tonyrefail East told Sky News the mood was “heavy” within the local community.
“Any tragic accident is going to bring a lot of grief and a lot of pain,” he said.
“That is really evident in the community and in the community here in Coedely this morning where this tragic accident has happened.
“The local people been involved in this accident, we still don’t know the details. But obviously the loss of life in any event is a real hit for us as a community.”
Image: The scene in Coedely, near Tonyrefail, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Wales’s first minister, Mark Drakeford, posted his condolences on X, formerly Twitter.
“My thoughts are with the families and friends of those involved in this tragic incident in Coedely, and diolch o galon (heartfelt thanks) to all first responders working at the scene,” he wrote.
The war of words over Sentebale is continuing, with the charity calling on the Charity Commission to provide clarity that its recent report did not specifically investigate claims of racism and misogyny against Prince Harry.
Sources close to the Duke of Sussex claim they are “rehashing unsubstantiated allegations of bullying, misogyny and more”, describing their latest move as not “just provocative, it’s pitiful”.
A source at Sentebale has told Sky News: “We have written to The Charity Commission stating that the onus is on the commission to restate for the record that individual allegations of bullying have not been investigated or addressed in the commission’s report.”
It comes after the Charity Commission report stated that “based on the evidence provided and reviewed by the commission, it found no evidence of: widespread or systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir at the charity”.
However, the commission added that it “acknowledged the strong perception of ill treatment felt by a number of parties to the dispute and the impact this may have had on them personally”.
But sources at Sentebale believe the reporting around this statement – that Prince Harry has been cleared of bullying – has been inaccurate, as the charity watchdog did not specifically look at allegations made by the chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, including during an exclusive interview on Sky News.
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1:42
From March 2025: Charity chair’s bullying claims on Sky News
A source close to Prince Harry and the former board of trustees has hit back, and said: “It’s remarkable, just yesterday Ms Chanduaka was applauding the Charity Commission’s findings, yet today, after a flurry of unflattering headlines, she’s back on the warpath.
“Issuing yet another media statement only reinforces the commission’s criticism about using the press to air internal disputes.
“Rehashing unsubstantiated allegations of bullying, misogyny and more, which the commission found no evidence of and dressing them up as veiled threats isn’t just provocative, it’s pitiful.
“If Ms Chanduaka has genuine concerns, she should spell them out plainly or, better yet, redirect her energy toward something truly worthwhile, like raising money for the children Sentebale exists to support.”
It’s understood Prince Harry and his supporters have also been left unsatisfied by the scope of the report, including their concerns about money spent on consultants that was authorised by Dr Chandauka.
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Responding to Sky News, the Charity Commission said: “We have issued the charity with an action plan which sets out steps the current trustees need to take to improve governance weaknesses and rectify findings of mismanagement.
“We now urge all involved to put their differences behind them and allow the charity to focus on its work and beneficiaries”.
Their report, released on Wednesday, was highly critical of all parties for allowing their disagreement to play out so publicly and allowing it to severely impact the charity’s reputation.
Detective Constable Jamie White, of the Met’s South Area Command Unit, said: “While the monetary value of this theft is enormous, the sentimental value is priceless – with many of the pieces being passed down through generations of the family.
“Helpfully, a number of the pieces stolen are unique, so we are hoping that releasing these photographs will jog someone’s memory.”
Three people have been charged with showing support for Palestine Action after the group was banned as a terror organisation.
Two women and a man were arrested in Westminster following a protest in central London on 5 July, the Metropolitan Police said.
Jeremy Shippam, 71, of West Sussex, Judit Murray, also 71, of Surrey, and Fiona Maclean, 53, of Hackney in London, were charged with displaying an article in a public place, arousing reasonable suspicion they are a supporter of a proscribed organisation, under section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The trio are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 September.
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1:29
What’s happening to Palestine Action?
The charges come ahead of a planned protest in support of the group on Saturday afternoon in Parliament Square in London, which organisers expect more than 500 people will attend.
Defend Our Juries, which is organising the demonstration, said protests will continue until a High Court challenge over Palestine Action’s ban in November.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Anyone who displays public support for Palestine Action, a proscribed organisation, is committing an offence under the Terrorism Act and can expect to be arrested and, as these charges show, will be investigated to the full extent of the law.
“These charges relate to three people arrested in central London on 5 July.
“We are also planning to send case files to the Crown Prosecution Service for the other 26 people arrested on the same day.
“I would strongly advise anyone planning to come to London this weekend to show support for Palestine Action to think about the potential criminal consequences of their actions.”
The latest charges bring the total number of people charged with offences under the Terrorism Act related to Palestine Action to 10 across England, Wales and Scotland, Counter Terrorism Policing said.
Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for Prevent and Pursue at Counter Terrorism Policing, said: “Our role is to enforce the law where we suspect offences to have been committed and we will continue to do so, without fear or favour.
“At this time, it remains illegal to be a member of or encourage support for the group Palestine Action. This legislation is specific to that group and does not interfere with the right to protest in support of the Palestinian cause.
“Operational plans are in place to ensure this right can be preserved over the coming days with protests expected in several major cities, including London.
“As well as robust plans to respond to activity in support of this proscribed group, resources are also in place to investigate offences that may be identified or reported following such events.”
More than 220 people have been arrested at protests across the UK in response to the proscription last month, as part of the campaign coordinated by Defend Our Juries, including on suspicion of membership of, inviting support for and showing support for Palestine Action.
The ban on the group came after two Voyager aircraft suffered around £7m worth of damage at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on 20 June.
Three days later, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action, calling the vandalism “disgraceful” and saying the group had a “long history of unacceptable criminal damage”.