South Yorkshire Police's Blunder: Wrongfully Informing a Family About Their Teen's Death in a Crash
By Chloe Aslett
Yorkshire
Updated 2 minutes ago
In a shocking revelation, South Yorkshire Police has admitted to a grave error in identifying a teenager involved in a fatal car crash. The force mistakenly informed the family of Trevor Wynn, a 17-year-old, that he had died in the December crash near Rotherham, while they incorrectly identified Joshua Johnson, another 18-year-old, as the survivor.
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane acknowledged the mistake, stating that the force had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. He expressed awareness of the additional emotional trauma caused by this error.
The incident occurred on Todwick Road between Dinnington and Todwick in the early hours of December 13th, when a silver Toyota Corolla veered off the road. Initially, the police reported that a 17-year-old girl, the driver, and a 17-year-old boy had died at the scene, while an 18-year-old male was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
However, it was later discovered that the 17-year-old girl and the 17-year-old boy were not the ones who died. The family of Trevor Wynn was informed of his death, while it was believed that Joshua Johnson, the 18-year-old in the hospital, was the survivor.
In a statement, the police revealed that concerns regarding the identities of the deceased had been raised, leading to further identification processes and the discovery of the mistake. Colin McFarlane offered to meet with both sets of parents to address the issue and answer their questions.
The incident has caused immense shock and distress, and the police are committed to understanding how the error occurred to prevent similar incidents in the future. They are fully cooperating with the police watchdog's subsequent investigation.
Despite not being publicly named by the police, Trevor Wynn was widely identified on social media and in local news as the victim. The 17-year-old girl involved in the crash has not been formally named. Two individuals, an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old, arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice, respectively, remain on bail pending further inquiries.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is assessing the referral to determine if an investigation is necessary. This incident raises important questions about the accuracy of police reporting and the potential impact on families involved in tragic accidents.
Get in touch and share your thoughts on this story. Listen to the latest updates from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds and catch up with Look North for more news.
