Two families endured a nightmare before Christmas after a catastrophic police error wrongly identified the victims of a fatal car crash, with one family planning a funeral for a son who was actually alive in hospital.
A Tragic Collision and a Heartbreaking Mix-Up
South Yorkshire Police informed the family of 17-year-old Trevor Wynn, known as TJ, that he had died in a road traffic collision in Rotherham in the early hours of 13 December. The devastating news came just weeks before Christmas, plunging his loved ones from Worksop, Nottingham, into grief.
They spent three agonising weeks mourning and making funeral arrangements, with a service planned for Friday, 3 January. A fundraising page was set up and tributes poured in online.
The Shocking Truth Emerges
However, the police had made a staggering error. It was not Trevor who had died, but another passenger in the vehicle, 18-year-old Joshua Johnson. A 17-year-old girl, who was driving, also lost her life.
Police believed Joshua was the survivor, sedated in hospital, when in reality it was Trevor receiving treatment. The mistake meant Joshua's family spent weeks believing he was fighting for his life in intensive care, visiting him daily, unaware the critically injured patient was not their son.
The truth only emerged 22 days after the crash when Trevor regained consciousness and was able to tell medical staff his name and date of birth.
Families' Anguish and Calls for Accountability
A source close to Trevor's family described the blunder as "disgusting," stating they were "devastated for the other lad's family." Trevor is now recovering with specialist support.
In a statement on the now-updated GoFundMe page, his family addressed the error openly: "The police initially made a mistake and identified the wrong person, and we were informed incorrectly at the time. Our focus now is on helping TJ recover."
Meanwhile, Joshua's family, who had believed he was alive, are now coming to terms with his actual death. A fundraiser set up for his funeral describes him as a "fearless" stockcar racing fanatic and a kind, caring lad. It has raised over £11,000.
Police Referral and Ongoing Investigations
South Yorkshire Police's Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane acknowledged the "huge shock" and "additional trauma" caused. The force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the identification processes followed.
"We are absolutely committed to understanding how this happened so it cannot happen again," ACC McFarlane said, adding that he had offered to meet both sets of parents.
In connection with the crash itself, an 18-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, and a 19-year-old on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Both remain on bail.
