A devastating police error meant a grieving family spent three weeks at the hospital bedside of a stranger, believing he was their son who had survived a fatal car crash, only to later learn their child had died at the scene.
A Tragic Error Unfolds
Joshua Johnson, an 18-year-old described by his family as 'loveable', died in a collision in Rotherham on Saturday 13 December. A 17-year-old girl also lost her life in the same incident. In the immediate aftermath, South Yorkshire Police conducted an identification process that resulted in a catastrophic mistake.
Officers informed Joshua Johnson's family that he was injured and receiving treatment in hospital. They were told that another teenager, 17-year-old Trevor Wynn, had been killed. Acting on this information, Johnson's devastated relatives maintained a vigil for weeks, supporting who they believed to be their recovering son.
Three Weeks of False Hope
The person the family was visiting was, in fact, Trevor Wynn, the young man police had stated was deceased. The true identities were only confirmed following tests, with the results coming through on Sunday, 4 January 2026.
The revelation meant the Johnson family's three weeks of hope and hospital visits were built on a foundation of official error. Simultaneously, the Wynn family, who had been mourning their son, discovered he was alive but injured.
Police Referral and Family Tributes
South Yorkshire Police have labelled the incident an 'appalling' mix-up and have taken the serious step of referring themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). In a statement, the force pledged a full investigation to understand precisely how the misidentification occurred and to implement measures preventing any repeat of such a traumatic failure.
Meanwhile, Joshua Johnson's heartbroken family have paid tribute to their 'loveable' teenager, their grief compounded by the prolonged and painful confusion caused by the police's initial mistake. The case raises serious questions about casualty identification protocols used by police forces following major incidents.
