'It is clear something has gone very wrong' - police watchdog statement after identity mix-up after crash
The police watchdog has issued a statement over an identity mix-up following a fatal collision in which two teenagers died and another was left fighting for life.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding a mix-up which led to one family being incorrectly informed that their son had died, and another set of parents being told in error that their son was fighting for life.
It was not until last weekend that the mistake was discovered.
On December 13, 2025, three families were shattered following a fatal collision on Todwick Road in Rotherham.
A girl, aged 17, and an 18-year-old man now identified as Joshua Johnson tragically died in the incident.
Meanwhile, Trevor Wynn, also 17, was taken to hospital in a critical condition, where he was kept sedated.
However, at the time police wrongly told Trevor’s family that the young boy had died, while Joshua’s loved ones gathered around the bedside of who they were told was their relative.
South Yorkshire Police referred itself to the IOPC, with the watchdog announcing that it is carrying out a ‘thorough investigation’.
IOPC Director Emily Barry said: “My sincere condolences and thoughts go out to all those involved. It’s hard to imagine what these families have been through in the past few weeks. It is clear something has gone very wrong with awful consequences for them.
“We understand the concern about this incident and it is vital that we carry out a thorough investigation, independently of the police, to establish exactly how and why this happened.
“We will carefully examine the circumstances regarding the identification of individuals following the collision, including what policies and procedures were in place and whether they were followed appropriately, to determine the facts and identify any learning arising from this tragic situation.”
The mistake was dubbed a ‘catastrophic error’ by Rotherham MP Sarah Champion, while South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard - whose office also manages police and crime commissioner responsibilities - voiced his support for a full investigation into the events.
Trevor’s family had already planned a funeral for who they thought was their son.
A fundraising appeal to help Joshua’s family has raised more than £14,000.
His family described Joshua as a ‘loveable, gentle giant’, adding: “What we have been through and are continuing to go through is unimaginable.
“From the moment we were told about the collision in December, ourselves and many loved ones have spent hours in hospital with who we now know to be Trevor. We never wanted him to be alone. Only those we shared this time with could understand how this went on for so long.
“Neither us nor Josh’s brother can imagine life without him, and as we adjust to this new world and only just begin our journey with grief, we ask that our privacy is respected."