South Yorkshire Police mistakenly declared teen dead in Rotherham crash

Police Mistakenly Inform Family of Son’s Death

Police in South Yorkshire mistakenly told a family that their son had died in a car crash when he had actually survived. The family of 17-year-old Trevor Wynn was informed that he had passed away, along with a girl of the same age, after a serious collision on Todwick Road in Rotherham on December 13.

At that time, it was believed that 18-year-old Joshua Johnson was under sedation in the hospital due to injuries. South Yorkshire Police (SYP) later stated that new information emerged on Sunday, prompting further identification processes.

The additional checks were conducted after the teenager, who was thought to be Mr. Johnson, woke up in the hospital and identified himself as Mr. Wynn, according to Sky News correspondent Emma Birchley.

Identification Confirmed

Tests confirmed that Mr. Wynn was the injured young man receiving treatment in the hospital, while Mr. Johnson was the individual who had died. This “astonishing mistake” led to Mr. Wynn’s family believing he had died during Christmas and New Year, while Mr. Johnson’s family thought he was injured in the hospital.

Birchley reported, “It’s being reported… that that information was, in fact, the patient waking up and saying, ‘I’m Trevor.’” She added that forensic tests were conducted to confirm the identities.

Support for Families

Families of both teenagers will receive support from specialist services, according to police. Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane expressed that the situation was “a huge shock to everyone” and acknowledged the additional trauma it may cause.

McFarlane stated, “We are supporting Trevor and all the families through this and have engaged specialist agencies to help provide that support.” He also offered to meet with both sets of parents to address their questions, noting that many answers are still unknown.

Investigation and Arrests

SYP has decided to refer the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and will fully cooperate with any investigation. They aim to understand how this error occurred to prevent future incidents.

Additionally, 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 individuals have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

SYP concluded their statement by thanking the public for their support and requesting privacy for those involved as they process their future.