It took just six words to change everything for the families of two teenage boys left devastated after a serious car crash.
One had died and one had survived – but it was only when Trevor Wynn, 17, finally opened his eyes in hospital weeks later that a catastrophic mistake made by police was finally unveiled.
Bungling officers had confused his identity with that of his friend Joshua Johnson, 18, following a fatal collision in Rotherham in the early hours of December 13, which also claimed the life of driver Summer Louise Scott, 17.
Floral tributes had been laid and Trevor’s family had begun planning his funeral over Christmas before the teenager regained consciousness and asked medical staff: ‘Why are you calling me Josh?’
In the most horrific of mistakes, South Yorkshire Police had incorrectly told the families Trevor had died while Joshua had survived – but had sustained serious injuries and was in a coma.
It is understood the Johnson family went to visit who they believed was Joshua in hospital on a daily basis, but due to the severe nature of the boy’s injuries they did not detect the mistake.
The alarm was finally raised over the weekend by a friend of Joshua who believed he was visiting the teenager in hospital.
As he started to open his eyes, the youth began talking about his family and where he studied – details which he believed did not match with Joshua.
The family of Joshua Johnson, 18, were informed by officers he had survived the collision – but he was in fact pronounced dead at the scene
It was only when Trevor Wynn, 17, finally opened his eyes in hospital weeks later that the catastrophic mistake made by police was finally unveiled
On Sunday, the friend contacted Joshua’s parents, who alerted South Yorkshire Police, leading to the appalling mix-up finally being confirmed.
Jake Richard, MP for Rother Valley, said South Yorkshire Police now faces ‘serious questions’ about ‘how such a failure occurred and what safeguards were not in place to prevent it’.
He added: ‘This is an appalling situation for the families involved.’
South Yorkshire Police meanwhile has confirmed that it has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the error.
In yet another extraordinary twist, the Daily Mail can reveal that Trevor’s parents did view the body following the crash and accepted it was their son’s.
‘Trevor’s parents saw Joshua, and Joshua’s parents saw Trevor,’ a source said.
Trevor’s facial injuries – plus the similarities between the two teenagers’ appearances – meant Joshua’s parents didn’t suspect anything was amiss.
To compound matters it is understood that they didn’t know Trevor, meaning they didn’t recognise him.
Pictured: Joshua Johnson. South Yorkshire Police told Joshua’s family he was battling for life in intensive care – while passing their condolences to the family of Trevor Wynn
‘They just thought it was Josh, they had no reason to think it wasn’t their son,’ another source said.
‘It’s just the most unbelievable situation. They’re still trying to come to terms with the fact it was a different boy and that their son actually died in the crash three weeks earlier.
‘They have so many questions, plus of course instead of praying for Josh’s recovery they’re now grieving for him.’
As questions today mounted over how the unthinkable error by South Yorkshire Police occurred, and why it took 22 days to realise, tributes were paid to racing fanatic Joshua.
Joshua, described as ‘fearless’ by friends, had competed in stockcar competitions across the UK, and had only celebrated passing his driving test in September.
A GoFundMe appeal to raise funeral funds for the teenager described him as an ‘incredible person’.
Organiser Frances Parker wrote: ‘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.
The vehicle was being driven by Summer Scott, 17, from Worksop, who also died in the tragedy
Summer died when the Toyota in which they were travelling left the road and struck a tree
‘Together with his mum, dad, and brother, I want to come together to raise money to give Josh the send-off he truly deserves. One that honours the incredible person he was and the love he gave so freely.
‘Any support, no matter how small, means the world to us and helps us remember and celebrate a truly special soul who will never be forgotten.’
Another friend, Lee Logan, posted images of Joshua on Facebook, along with the caption: ‘Fly high brother. RIP’
He described the accident to an online acquaintance as ‘the three-week mess about one’.
Sources close to his family said a funeral had even been planned for him this Friday.
One friend said: ‘It’s a lot to get your head around. There are so many unanswered questions.’
Another source close to Trevor’s family branded the mix up as ‘disgusting’.
They said: ‘They just can’t take it in – they’re devastated for the other lad’s family as they’ve just gone through it. It’s absolutely disgusting.
The vehicle left the carriageway between Dinnington and Todwick, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, pictured
‘This poor family have only just started grieving thinking their son was dead and have been preparing for a funeral. The young lad who actually passed away was who they thought was in the coma.’
Flowers had even been laid for Trevor at Valley Young People’s Centre in Worksop when it was still believed that the 17-year-old had died.
Now it is the family of Joshua who are grieving.
Friend Claire Holden wrote on Facebook: ‘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.
‘We watched Josh take his first ever drive in a micro up and down our driveway and then onto track, and was always my ‘go to boy’ in helping with the new younger drivers coming into the formula, with his words of comfort and help. A wonderful young man, with his whole life ahead of him taken far too soon.’
The crash happened when a silver Toyota Corolla left the carriageway on Todwick Road, near Dinnington, South Yorkshire.
The vehicle was being driven by Summer Scott, 17, from Worksop, who also died in the tragedy.
South Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane said the force had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) since identifying the error
Stepsister Chelsy Hall wrote in an online fundraiser: ‘On the 13 of December, my step-sister Summer was in a tragic accident and sadly lost her life at the age of 17.
‘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.
‘As this was an unexpected tragedy we kindly ask for any donations to help to give Summer the best send off she deserves, anything big or small will be very appreciated as it takes less stress off her family through this hard time.’
South Yorkshire Police said that information came to light on Sunday that led to further formal identification processes – including forensics – to be undertaken, revealing the error.
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane acknowledged the ‘huge shock’ and ‘additional trauma’ the mix-up will have caused.
He has offered to meet the parents of both teenagers who he said ‘will have many questions, most of which we are not able to answer yet’.
He added: ‘We have taken the decision to refer ourselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to consider our role in the identification processes which were followed following the road traffic collision.
‘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.’
Jonathan Stoner, 31, a friend of Trevor’s family, said: ‘It has been heartbreaking for them. 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. They have no idea how it has all come to happen.’
Mr Stoner added: ‘Parents who have told their kids that Trevor was dead are now going to have to tell them otherwise, which is brutal.’
Following 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 enquiries.
Daily Mail has approached South Yorkshire Police and the local coroner to ask what identification checks were carried out.
