The families of two teenagers involved in a devastating car collision have described their "unimaginable" trauma after a catastrophic identification error by police meant they spent three weeks mourning and caring for the wrong boy.
A Tragic Collision and the Initial Mistake
On 13 December, a crash near Rotherham claimed the lives of two 17-year-olds, Summer Louise Scott and a young man police initially identified as Trevor "TJ" Wynn. An 18-year-old passenger, Joshua Johnson, was reported to be seriously injured in hospital.
Based on this information, Joshua's family maintained a constant vigil at the hospital bedside of the critically injured survivor, believing him to be their son. Meanwhile, Trevor's family, having viewed a body they accepted as their son's, began planning a funeral and grieving his loss.
The Shocking Truth Emerges
The agonising three-week mix-up began to unravel last weekend when the teenager in hospital started to regain consciousness. As his memory returned, he spoke about his family and his studies – details that did not match Joshua Johnson's life.
The patient, who was in fact Trevor Wynn, began asking nurses and visitors: "Why are you calling me Josh?" A friend who was present alerted Joshua's parents, who then contacted South Yorkshire Police. This led to the appalling truth being confirmed on Sunday: it was Joshua who had died in the crash, and Trevor was the survivor fighting for his life in hospital.
A source described the situation to the Daily Mail: "They just thought it was Josh, they had no reason to think it wasn’t their son... They’re still trying to come to terms with the fact it was a different boy."
Families' Heartbreak and a Police Referral
In a moving statement, Joshua's family paid tribute to their "loveable, gentle giant," highlighting his genuine care for others and passion for stock car racing. They revealed they had spent countless hours at the hospital with who they now know was Trevor, stating, "We never wanted him to be alone."
The severe nature of Trevor's facial injuries, coupled with notable similarities in the teenagers' appearances, meant neither family initially suspected the terrible error. Trevor's family had identified Joshua's body as their own son.
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane said the force recognised the "additional trauma" caused and has offered to meet both sets of parents. South Yorkshire Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is assessing whether an investigation is required.
The case has left two families navigating a complex web of grief, relief, and unanswered questions, their ordeal compounded by an error that prolonged their suffering for over three weeks.
