A father only discovered his son had died three weeks after a car crash due to a police identification blunder and "couldn't comprehend it," feeling his family endured two deaths, an inquest heard. Joshua Johnson, 18, and Summer Louise Scott, 17, died when a Toyota Corolla veered off Todwick Road, near Rotherham, and hit a tree in the early hours of December 13 last year, Doncaster inquests were told on Monday.
Misidentification led to weeks of confusion
Police initially misidentified front seat passenger Trevor Wynn, then 17, as the male victim, leading his family to believe he was dead until he woke from sedation three weeks later, on January 4. Simultaneously, Mr Johnson's family kept vigil at the bedside of the seriously injured Mr Wynn, unaware their son had died.
A statement from Mr Johnson's father, Lee Johnson, was read at Doncaster Coroner's Court on Monday, where a coroner ruled his son had been unlawfully killed. Mr Johnson detailed how he and his wife spent weeks at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, believing they were with their gravely injured son, only to be told there had been an error.
He stated: "This information came as a huge shock and I cannot comprehend it. It felt like, as a family, we had two deaths. I felt I had missed out on the initial grieving part of the process."
How the identification error occurred
Senior coroner Nicola Mundy read a statement from Detective Chief Inspector Andy Knowles, of South Yorkshire Police, who explained how the confusion started when several personal belongings were found at the scene, "though were not physically about the person of either of the males." Among these items was a mobile phone in a case holding Joshua Johnson's driving licence. A second mobile phone found nearby contained medical ID details in Trevor Wynn's name, and a bank card bearing the same name was also present.
Mr Knowles told the court how an officer used this information to track down Trevor Wynn's mother, who supplied a college ID card and a description of his physique and shoes. The officer took the ID card to Rotherham Mortuary, where the deceased victim was booked in as an unknown male. "Upon considering the comparison between the male's features against the ID, and also considering the descriptive details of build and clothing, the officer was satisfied that this was the body of Trevor Wynn," he explained.
Mr Knowles revealed that a second officer, accompanying the surviving but heavily sedated teenager, was told by colleagues at the scene that this individual was Joshua Johnson and secured a photograph from Mr Johnson's driving licence. He added: "The officer liaised with medical staff and the photograph was compared against the casualty. Those present were then satisfied that this person was Joshua Johnson." He detailed how he confirmed the true identity of the deceased male, stating there was "no further reliance in this case on visual recognition as a form of ID," and identification was achieved using dental records.
Crash details and investigation
Separate inquests into the deaths of Mr Johnson and Miss Scott took place on Monday. Senior Rotherham Coroner Nicola Mundy was told that Miss Scott was behind the wheel of the Toyota and lost control as she neared a slight bend. The vehicle veered across a verge, collided with a low wall, flipped in the air, and struck a mature tree nearly 50m from the road.
Police investigators used the tracking app Life360, installed on one of the mobiles in the car, to determine the vehicle had been travelling at 95mph for approximately a kilometre before the crash, slowing to 86mph roughly 130m before the bend. Forensic collision investigator Peter Gallagher stated this was the first instance his team had employed this method, and tests indicated the maximum safe speed to navigate the bend was 68mph.
The inquest was told Miss Scott held a provisional driving licence but had not yet passed her test. Pc Joe Binley reported that two men were apprehended who were in a vehicle trailing the Toyota. Officers probed whether the cars had been racing, but evidence, including a Snapchat video of the crash filmed by someone in the second car, indicated there was a gap between the vehicles and it was Miss Scott's choice to drive as she did.
Miss Scott had told friends about a problem with her car's brakes, but the inquest found no defects on the vehicle that could have contributed to the accident. The coroner heard that Miss Scott's family characterised her as "loving, caring and very funny" but also "fierce and sassy," mentioning her long-standing passion for cars. Mr Johnson's family portrayed him as a "gentle giant" with a "massive heart," who had a "bright future ahead that was tragically cut short." The coroner concluded that Miss Scott died as a result of a road traffic collision and Mr Johnson was unlawfully killed.
Watchdog investigation ongoing
Earlier this year, the police watchdog, investigating the misidentification mistake, stated it was "clear something has gone very wrong," leading to "awful consequences" for both families. A spokesperson for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced on Monday that the investigation was "at an advanced stage" and they hoped it would conclude "in the coming weeks."
South Yorkshire Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane stated: "We recognise the shock and significant distress caused by the misidentification following the collision on Todwick Road, and the unimaginable consequences this had for the families involved. Only those involved can truly understand." Mr McFarlane mentioned that the force took immediate steps to review processes and will consider the findings of the IOPC when it reports. He added that work is in progress to ensure all officers are confident following new guidance issued by the College of Policing in August.
