A mix-up at the hospital left one family mourning a son who was still alive-and another unaware their child had died.
> At a Glance
> – South Yorkshire Police misidentified a 17-year-old crash survivor as the deceased victim
> – Trevor Wynn awoke in hospital on Jan. 4 and told staff he was alive
> – Joshua Johnson, 18, was the actual fatality from the Dec. 13 collision
> – Why it matters: The force has referred itself to Britain’s police watchdog to prevent a repeat
South Yorkshire Police have admitted they told the wrong family their teenager had died in a Dec. 13 crash on Todwick Road, Yorkshire. The error was uncovered only when the sedated “Joshua” woke up and said he was actually Trevor Wynn.
How the Mix-Up Happened
The collision killed a 17-year-old girl at the scene and left two male passengers with critical injuries. Officers believed Joshua Johnson, 18, was the hospitalized survivor and Trevor Wynn, 17, was the second fatality.
On Sunday, Jan. 4, new information triggered forensic re-checks. Results confirmed:
- Joshua Johnson had died in the crash
- Trevor Wynn was the teen in hospital
- Families received corrected notifications the same day
Police Response and Investigation
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane stated:
> “This has obviously come as a huge shock to everyone and we recognise the additional trauma this may cause.”
The force has:
- Offered specialist support to both families
- Volunteered to meet Trevor and Joshua’s parents
- Referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)
> “We are absolutely committed to understanding how this happened so it cannot happen again,” McFarlane added.
Crash Aftermath and Legal Moves
An 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. A 19-year-old was held for perverting the course of justice. Both remain on bail while enquiries continue.
Key Takeaways
- Misidentification lasted 22 days before Trevor Wynn regained consciousness
- South Yorkshire Police have self-referred to Britain’s police watchdog
- Two arrests have been made; investigations remain active
The IOPC will decide the next steps as both families absorb the corrected news.
