South Yorkshire Police has issued a grovelling apology after making a catastrophic error by mixing up the identities of two teenagers involved in a fatal car crash, wrongly informing one family their son had died and another that theirs was alive.
A Tragic Collision and a Staggering Mistake
The devastating incident occurred on December 13 near Rotherham, when a Toyota left the carriageway between Dinnington and Todwick and struck a tree. Police initially announced that 17-year-old Trevor Wynn had been pronounced dead at the scene. A second 17-year-old girl also tragically died, while a third teenager was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
However, in a shocking turn of events, the force revealed that concerns were raised about the victims' identities on Sunday, leading to a new formal identification process. This forensic investigation established that Trevor Wynn was in fact alive and receiving treatment in hospital.
Families Endure Unimaginable Trauma
The police blunder meant the family of 18-year-old Joshua Johnson had spent Christmas believing he was under sedation in hospital, recovering from his injuries. They have now been told he was the boy who died in the crash.
Conversely, Trevor Wynn's family, who had been grieving for their son for three weeks, were informed he is still alive and has been in hospital since the collision. The families are now coming to terms with this unimaginable reversal of fate.
Police Watchdog Investigation and Apology
South Yorkshire Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the mistake in the identification processes followed after the road traffic collision. Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane stated the error had caused a 'huge shock' and 'additional trauma'.
In a formal apology, McFarlane said: 'I have offered to meet with both sets of parents... We are absolutely committed to understanding how this happened so it cannot happen again.' The force is providing specialist support to the families and the surviving victim.
Following the crash, an 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, and a 19-year-old was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Both remain on bail as enquiries continue.
