South Wales Police have confirmed that the names of the two people who died in the collision in Gilfach Goch on Saturday morning, are Lee Jenkins and Raquel Louise Davies.
Lee, aged 25, and Raquel, aged 23, were a couple from the local area and leave behind their 9 week-old baby, Harley.
Both were passengers in the white BMW 1 Series convertible, the only vehicle understood to be involved in the collision.
The car travelled through the village of Gilfach Goch along High Street and Cambrian Avenue before joining the A4093 towards Tonyrefail and travelling past Hendreforgan before it left the road. Both Lee and Raquel died at the scene of the incident.
Their respective families have paid the following tribute to them:
The family of Lee Jenkins, said:
Lee was a keen and talented footballer when he was younger. He was also very popular and had many friends in the area. The whole family are heart broken at the loss of Lee and will cherish all the great times and wonderful memories he gave us. Lee was particularly close to his sister Lucy and his brother Thomas. He also loved his Fiancé Raquel dearly and was enjoying being a new dad to Harley who is just 9 weeks old. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
The family of Raquel , said:
Raquel was perfect in every way, she would help anyone out at any time and was a beautiful person inside and out. She was a devoted and brilliant mother to her young son and loved her fiance immensely. She was my best friend. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends from the local area.
Specially trained South Wales Police officers are providing support to both families at this difficult time.
Officers are continuing their investigation into what happened. They have viewed CCTV footage and believe that the occupants of a number of vehicles, including two buses, may have seen the white car driving in the moments before the collision.
Potential witnesses include the occupants of a silver Volkswagen Passat, and what is believed to be a dark Renault Clio travelling from Gilfach Goch to Tonyrefail behind a bus.
Travelling in the opposite direction, from Tonyrefail towards Gilfach Goch, again behind a bus, was what was believed to be a dark Hyundai Santa Fe, a silver Citroen Picasso, a white Mercedes C Class Estate, a black Volkswagen Beetle, and a silver Vauxhall Vectra.
They, the passengers on the two buses, and anyone else who may have seen the vehicle or who has information, are urged to contact South Wales Police’s Roads Policing Unit via 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and is in police custody.
