THE latest tragedy is the third time in recent history in which four people have died in Gwent crashes.

In October 2004, four men died after a BMW car plunged 100ft down a quarry at Swffryd.

Nineteen-year-old Alex Williams, and 21-year-old Karl Devlin, both from Malpas, Newport, died along with Shane Powell, 29, from Pontypool, and 47-year-old Jack Magee, from Aberbeeg.

In December 2001, four friends died when a car plunged from the Caerleon Road at St Julians, Newport, into the River Usk.

Anthony HIll, 35, from Durham Road, Matthew Reardon, 23, of Eveswell Street, Leighton Pring, 22, and Martin Biggs, 34, both of Bishton Street, all from Newport, died in the tragedy.

Only Kristian Reardon, Matthew's brother, managed to escape the submerged car to raise the alarm. The friends had been driving back from a pool match in Caerleon.