Tributes are being paid to an 18-year-old who died in a car crash, after police mistakenly informed his family that he had survived the collision. The error, described by South Yorkshire Police as a "huge shock", has led the force to refer itself to the police watchdog.
A Tragic Case of Mistaken Identity
The incident occurred on 13 December on Todwick Road in Rotherham. Joshua Johnson, 18, was killed in the collision alongside a teenage girl. Initially, however, South Yorkshire Police (SYP) identified the male victim as 17-year-old Trevor Wynn.
The force told Mr Johnson's family that he was under sedation in hospital, while they believed Mr Wynn had died. The devastating truth only emerged weeks later when, as Sky News correspondent Emma Birchley reported, "information came to light" – specifically, the patient in hospital woke up and said, "I'm Trevor."
Forensic testing later confirmed the tragic mistake. It was, in fact, Joshua Johnson who had lost his life, while Trevor Wynn remained in hospital receiving treatment.
Family's 'Unimaginable' Ordeal
In a heart-breaking tribute released via police, Joshua Johnson's family said they had endured an "unimaginable" ordeal. "From the moment we were told about the collision in December, ourselves and many loved ones have spent hours in hospital with who we now know to be Trevor," they stated.
They described Joshua as a "loveable, gentle giant" who was "ever so genuine in his care for others." The family added: "Neither us nor Josh's brother can imagine life without him, and as we adjust to this new world... we ask that our privacy is respected."
Police Apology and Investigation
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane said the mix-up had come as a shock and recognised the "additional trauma" it caused. "We are supporting Trevor and all the families through this," he said, confirming the force had engaged specialist agencies to help.
Mr McFarlane has offered to meet both sets of parents. "We are absolutely committed to understanding how this happened so it cannot happen again," he stated. The force has now made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and pledged full cooperation with any investigation.
In relation to the crash itself, an 18-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. A 19-year-old has also been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Both individuals remain on bail as enquiries continue.
