Teen Misidentified After Rotherham Crash

A South Yorkshire family was wrongly told their teenage son had been killed after a serious collision in Rotherham, police have said — a mistake that left two families reeling and a local community in shock. The crash happened on Todwick Road on 13 December. Initially, officers believed 17-year-old Trevor Wynn had died and that 18-year-old Joshua Johnson was the injured patient in hospital. After concerns were raised and further testing carried out, it emerged the identities had been reversed: Trevor was alive in hospital and Joshua had died. The mix-up had immediate, painful consequences. Messages of condolence and online tributes praising Trevor appeared before the full picture was known, and a fundraising page set up in his name gathered several hundred pounds. Police say both families will receive specialist support. South Yorkshire Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct so the identification process can be reviewed independently. The force has said it will cooperate fully with the IOPC and has also offered to meet both sets of parents. Officers described the error as shocking and acknowledged it could cause further distress to those involved. Two people have been arrested in connection with the incident: an 18-year-old on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and a 19-year-old on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Both have been released on bail while inquiries continue. This is more than an administrative error; it shows how a single mistake can ripple out, affecting grieving rituals, fundraising, and public trust. For families, being told a loved one has died is one of life’s most brutal moments — to have that overwritten by later correction is another kind of trauma. For the wider public, it raises questions about how identification is handled after serious incidents and how quickly information should be shared. The IOPC investigation will be watched closely. Beyond establishing what went wrong, communities will want assurance that safeguards are improved so no one else is put through the same ordeal. In the meantime, police say support services are in place for those most affected as the enquiries continue. --- Managing your business finances? TaxAce provides smart online accountancy services for UK businesses with flexible monthly plans. Image and reporting: https://www.theguardian.com | Read original article