A family received shocking news that their son had passed away, only to discover weeks later that he was actually alive. South Yorkshire Police mistakenly declared Trevor Wynn, 17, dead after a tragic accident in Rotherham. However, Trevor was found alive in a hospital, having survived the crash that claimed the lives of two other teenagers.
The police reported that a silver Toyota Corolla had veered off the road while traveling from Dinnington, resulting in the fatal collision. Joshua Johnson, 18, and an unnamed 17-year-old girl, who was the driver, tragically lost their lives in the incident. Initially, authorities had thought Joshua was the one receiving treatment, but it turned out to be Trevor.
Following new information, further identification procedures were initiated, delaying Joshua’s planned funeral. Trevor’s family, who had started a GoFundMe page mourning his supposed death, later updated the page to inform supporters of the mistaken identity. They emphasized the need for support as Trevor faces a challenging recovery journey, including medical expenses and rehabilitation.
The family expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support and donations received, acknowledging the community’s love during this difficult time. Despite preparations for Trevor’s funeral, which had been scheduled for the upcoming Friday, the revelation of his survival brought relief. Meanwhile, arrests were made in connection with the accident, with an 18-year-old held on suspicion of dangerous driving causing death and a 19-year-old on suspicion of obstructing justice.
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane acknowledged the significant impact of the mix-up on all involved parties and offered support to Trevor and the affected families. The police force has taken the initiative to involve external agencies in providing assistance and has committed to a thorough investigation to prevent such errors in the future. They have also referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for a review of their identification procedures post-accident.