Police have mistakenly informed a family that their teenage son had passed away in a car accident, leading to a distressing mix-up. South Yorkshire Police has taken the step of referring the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The tragic crash occurred on Todwick Road in Rotherham on December 13, claiming the lives of a 17-year-old girl and Joshua Johnson, 18. Another teenager, Trevor Wynn, 17, who was also involved in the accident, was hospitalized and sedated.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, authorities misidentified the sedated teen as Joshua Johnson and mistakenly informed Trevor Wynn’s family of his death. It wasn’t until over three weeks later, on January 4, that doubts were raised about the victims’ identities.
Following extensive formal identification procedures, including forensic analysis, it has been clarified that Trevor Wynn is the hospitalized individual receiving medical care, while Joshua Johnson is the deceased party, as confirmed by the police.
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane expressed deep regret over the mix-up and emphasized the support being provided to Trevor and all affected families. The police are collaborating with specialized agencies to offer necessary assistance. Additionally, McFarlane has offered to meet with both sets of parents to address their inquiries, acknowledging the need for an investigation to prevent such errors in the future.
The police force has self-referred to the IOPC for scrutiny of their involvement in the identification process post-accident. They pledge full cooperation with any ensuing investigation to understand the circumstances and implement measures to prevent similar incidents.
In connection with the crash, an 18-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, while a 19-year-old is held on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Both individuals are currently on bail pending further investigation.