South Yorkshire Police recognise “unimaginable consequences” of identification mix-up after horror crash
Only those involved can truly understand
South Yorkshire Police chiefs have recognised the “unimaginable consequences” an identification mix-up caused for the families of two teenage boys involved in a horror crash.
An inquest this week (September 7) heard how provisional driver Summer Louise Scott, aged 17, was driving a Toyota Corolla along Todwick Road in Rotherham on December 13, 2025, when she hit at tree.
She had reached speeds of 95mph beforehand.
Summer and rear seat passenger Joshua Johnson, 18, were killed, while front seat passenger Trevor Wynn, 17, survived the crash with serious injuries.
However, South Yorkshire Police misidentified the two boys - believing Trevor had been killed and that Joshua was the one in hospital.
Trevor’s family did not know their son had in fact survived until mid-January, when the teen woke up and identified himself.
At the same time, Joshua’s family had sat at the bedside of Trevor, not realising their own son was dead.
At the conclusion the inquests into the deaths on Monday, Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane, of SYP, paid tribute to the boys’ families who for enduring “unprecedented upset and uncertainty”.
He said in a statement: “First and foremost, on behalf of all involved in this investigation, I reiterate our deepest sympathies to the families of Joshua and Summer as the inquests into their deaths conclude today.
“Our thoughts also remain with Trevor and his family who have also endured unprecedented upset and uncertainty.
"We recognise the shock and significant distress caused by the misidentification following the collision on Todwick Road, and the unimaginable consequences this had for the families involved.
“Only those involved can truly understand. Our family liaison officers remain engaged with them and will continue to do so.
"The inquests have provided an opportunity to understand what happened during the collision, and the ongoing investigation by the Independent Office of Police Conduct continues to look at how the misidentification of Joshua and Trevor came to happen in the time that followed. We continue to fully support the independent investigation and we await its findings in the near future.
"We took immediate steps to review our processes and have recently implemented new guidance issued to all forces, in August, by the College of Policing. We are now delivering work to ensure all officers are confident when following the new guidance.
“As the IOPC investigation and inquests conclude, we will give full consideration to the findings."
The coroner concluded that Summer, of Ramsden Avenue, Langold, North Nottinghamshire, lost control of the vehicle she was driving, causing it to leave the road and hit a tree.
Evidence suggested all three occupants of the Toyota had been wearing seatbelts.
The hearing was told Summer did not have a qualified driver at her side, as required for those with a provisional licence.
She had passed her theory test and was booked for a practical test in February this year.
The coroner concluded that Summer died as a result of a road traffic collision and Joshua was unlawfully killed.
Summer’s family described her as “loving, caring and very funny” but also “fierce and sassy”.
Joshua’s family described him a “gentle giant” with a “massive heart” who had a “bright future ahead that was tragically cut short”.