A family in South Yorkshire endured a devastating Christmas after being wrongly informed by police that their teenage son had died in a horrific car crash, only to discover he was alive and waking from a coma three weeks later.
The Night of the Collision and Initial Error
South Yorkshire Police responded to a serious single-vehicle collision in the early hours of 13 December. A silver Toyota Corolla had left the carriageway shortly before 3am. Officers initially reported that Trevor Wynn, 17, had died at the scene. The driver, 17-year-old Summer Louise Scott, was also tragically killed.
However, a critical error occurred in the identification process. Police believed a second casualty, 18-year-old Joshua Johnson, was the person receiving treatment in hospital. In reality, Joshua had died, and Trevor was the survivor, lying in a coma.
A Family's Agonising Ordeal
Trevor Wynn's heartbroken family spent the festive period planning his funeral, which was scheduled for the first week of January. Meanwhile, Joshua Johnson's family was told their son was alive and fighting for his life in hospital.
The shocking truth only emerged 22 days after the crash, when Trevor regained consciousness and was able to tell medical staff his name. His family shared the unbelievable update on a GoFundMe page originally set up to cover funeral costs.
Police Response and Investigation
South Yorkshire Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane stated the force recognises "the additional trauma this may cause" to both families involved.
In connection with the crash itself, an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. A 19-year-old was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Both individuals remain on bail as enquiries continue.
The case has raised serious questions about victim identification protocols following major incidents, with two families subjected to unimaginable emotional turmoil due to the mistake.
