South Yorkshire Police have admitted they wrongly told a family their 17-year-old son had died after a Dec. 13 crash; forensic identification later confirmed the deceased was 18-year-old Joshua Johnson and that 17-year-old Trevor Wynn survived. The error came to light after the hospitalized teen woke up and gave his name, prompting further formal checks. SYP has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and pledged full cooperation while offering specialist support to the families. Two people have been arrested in connection with the crash and remain on bail.
Police Admit They Told Wrong Family Their Teen Had Died After Yorkshire Crash; Forensics Confirm Misidentification
GettyStock photo of a police car in the U.K.
South Yorkshire Police (SYP) have acknowledged that they mistakenly informed a family their 17-year-old son had died after a car crash on Dec. 13 — an error later corrected after formal identification work. Forensic checks carried out after a hospitalised teen regained consciousness established that 18-year-old Joshua Johnson was the deceased and that 17-year-old Trevor Wynn survived and is receiving treatment and support.
The collision occurred in the early hours of Dec. 13 on Todwick Road, Yorkshire. Early reports and witness accounts said a silver Toyota Corolla left the carriageway and struck a tree. Initial on-scene accounts indicated a 17-year-old female driver and a 17-year-old male had been pronounced dead, while an 18-year-old male was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
georgeclerk/GettyStock photo of a police car in the U.K.
On Jan. 4, SYP said new information prompted further formal identification procedures, including forensic checks. These were completed and announced in a force statement on Jan. 6 after the hospitalized teenager previously believed to be Joshua Johnson awoke and identified himself as Trevor Wynn.
Police Response and Support
SYP assistant chief constable Colin McFarlane acknowledged the profound shock and trauma caused by the misidentification and said the force is supporting the families and the surviving victim. He offered to meet both families and said the force has engaged specialist agencies to provide additional support.
Google MapsA street sign on Todwick Road in Yorkshire, England, where the crash happened
'This has obviously come as a huge shock to everyone and we recognise the additional trauma this may cause,' McFarlane said. 'We are supporting Trevor and all the families through this and have engaged specialist agencies to help provide that support.'
The force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which investigates police conduct in England and Wales, and said it will cooperate fully with any subsequent investigation led by the IOPC to determine how the error occurred and how similar incidents can be prevented in future.
Arrests
In connection with the crash, SYP confirmed an 18-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and a 19-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Both remain on bail pending further inquiries.
SYP emphasised that specialist officers and additional services are being made available to the families and the surviving teen, and that enquiries into the collision and identification process are ongoing.
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