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South Yorkshire Police have acknowledged a significant error in identifying victims involved in a fatal car accident near Rotherham last December. The force accidentally confused an 18-year-old who died in the crash with another teenager who survived. Relatives of 17-year-old Trevor Wynn were mistakenly informed that he had died, while Joshua Johnson, aged 18, was incorrectly identified as the individual who survived with serious injuries. The tragic collision also claimed the life of a 17-year-old girl.
The crash occurred in the early hours of 13 December on Todwick Road, between the towns of Dinnington and Todwick. Officers responding to the scene found a silver Toyota Corolla had veered off the road. Initial police reports stated that a 17-year-old female driver and a 17-year-old male passenger died instantly, while an 18-year-old male was critically injured and taken to hospital. At that time, Trevor Wynn’s family was told of his death, and Joshua Johnson was believed to be the hospitalized patient.
However, concerns about the correctness of these identifications arose, prompting South Yorkshire Police to initiate a thorough re-examination. On Sunday, new information triggered formal identification checks, including forensic analyses, which revealed the earlier mistake. In light of this, Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane confirmed the police force had referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). He acknowledged the potential for this error to cause additional distress to the families involved.
Addressing the situation, McFarlane expressed compassion towards those affected and offered to meet the families personally. He 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 also emphasized the police’s commitment to understanding how the mix-up happened to prevent any similar incidents in the future. Meanwhile, inquiries continue, with two individuals arrested in connection with the crash remaining on bail, and the IOPC assessing whether a formal investigation is needed
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