Statement from police watchdog as force confirms misidentification of Rotherham death crash teen
The police watchdog has issued a statement after South Yorkshire Police revealed a teen killed in a Rotherham crash has been mistaken for another male he was travelling with.
A 17-year-old girl, and a teenage male, were killed in the collision on Todwick Road, near North Anston in Rotherham, on December 13, 2025.
A second male involved in the crash survived, but has been sedated in hospital in the weeks following it.
South Yorkshire Police has this afternoon (Tuesday, January 6, 2026) confirmed that it was initially believed that 17-year-old Trevor Wynn had died in the collision, and Joshua Johnson, aged 18, had survived.
Concerns relating to Trevor’s identity were subsequently raised on Sunday (January 4, 2025).
It has now come to light that Trevor is actually the male who survived the collision and has been under sedation, and Joshua is the male who sadly passed away.
In their statement concerning the “misidentification” of the two males, South Yorkshire Police (SYP) stated the force had “taken the decision” to refer itself to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Responding to requests for comment, an IOPC spokesperson told The Star: “We are currently assessing a referral from South Yorkshire Police to determine whether an investigation is required.”
South Yorkshire Police say the surviving crash victim, Trevor, along with the families of the two males will be offered support from specialist officers and additional specialist services.
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane continued: “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.
“I have also offered to meet with both sets of parents as I am sure they will have many questions, most of which we are not able to answer yet but we are absolutely committed to understanding how this happened so it cannot happen again.
“We have taken the decision to refer ourselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to consider our role in the identification processes which were followed following the road traffic collision.
“We will co-operate fully with any subsequent investigation and will be led by the IOPC on the next steps to determine how this happened, and how we can ensure this never happens again in the future.”
An 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, and a 19-year-old was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
The SYP spokesperson said both teens currently remain on bail pending further enquiries.
They continued: “All of those involved have asked that we thank the public for their support but ask that they are now left in peace to process the future they now face.”