South Yorkshire Police have taken the unprecedented step of referring themselves to the police watchdog following a devastating error in which they incorrectly informed a family their teenage son had been killed in a road collision.
A Heartbreaking Case of Mistaken Identity
The serious incident occurred after a collision on Todwick Road in Rotherham on 13 December. In the immediate aftermath, police believed that Trevor Wynn, 17, had died alongside a 17-year-old girl. His family were subsequently given the tragic news.
It was initially thought that Joshua Johnson, 18, had been injured and was under sedation in hospital. However, on Sunday, concerns were raised leading to further testing. This confirmed the terrible truth: Johnson was the victim who had died, and Wynn was the teenager fighting for his life in hospital.
Trauma for Families and Community Response
Before the correction was made, an online outpouring of grief saw Trevor Wynn described in tributes as “the most caring lad with a soft soul”. A fundraising page set up in his memory had already collected hundreds of pounds in donations.
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane stated: “This has obviously come as a huge shock to everyone and we recognise the additional trauma this may cause. We are supporting Trevor and all the families through this and have engaged specialist agencies to help provide that support.”
He confirmed he had offered to meet both sets of parents, acknowledging they will have many questions which the force cannot yet fully answer.
Investigation and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The force's decision to self-refer to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) focuses on the identification processes followed after the crash. ACC McFarlane emphasised the force's commitment to “understanding how this happened so it cannot happen again” and pledged full cooperation with the watchdog.
In a related development, an 18-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. A 19-year-old has been held on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Both individuals have been released on bail pending further inquiries.
South Yorkshire Police have assured that both affected families will be offered continued support from specialist officers and external services as they navigate this profoundly distressing situation.
