Trevor Wynn: Funeral was planned for teen after horror crash - before cops discovered he was alive
A family who were told their teenage son had died in a horror crash -only to discover three weeks later that he was alive - were due to hold his funeral tomorrow.
South Yorkshire Police initially informed relatives of Trevor Wynn, aged 17, that he had died following a serious collision on Todwick Road in Rotherham shortly before 3am on December 13.
However, three weeks later the force discovered that it was actually Joshua Johnson, 18, who had lost his life in the crash.
Until that moment, police had believed Trevor was dead and that Joshua was the teenager being treated in hospital.
The crash involved a silver Toyota Corolla travelling away from Dinnington, which left the carriageway.
Joshua died at the scene, while an unnamed 17-year-old girl, who was driving the car, also died.
The source said: "They just can't take it in - they're devastated for the other lad's family as they've just gone through it.
"It's absolutely disgusting.”
Flowers had been laid in Trevor’s memory at Valley Young People’s Centre in Worksop, and a funeral was due to take place tomorrow.
A fundraising page set up to support his family had raised around £1,000, originally intended to help cover funeral costs.
Family friend Jonathan Stoner, who helped organise fundraising efforts for Trevor, said the truth emerged when the teenager regained consciousness.
He said doctors began asking Trevor basic questions, including his name, at which point he gave his full details.
Police then contacted his mother, Charlotte, who travelled to the hospital and confirmed it was her son in the hospital bed.
Jonathan said the family still do not understand how the mistake happened.
He said: "They were planning to bury the body of another boy - how is that allowed to happen?"
Trevor’s family had not formally identified the body they were told was his, as police had already completed the identification process.
The fundraising money raised for Trevor’s funeral will now be used to support his rehabilitation and recovery.
Jonathan said the emotional impact of the error has rippled through the local community, with parents now having to tell children that Trevor is alive after previously believing he had died.
South Yorkshire Police confirmed that new information came to light on January 4, prompting further forensic and formal identification checks.
The force acknowledged that Trevor had been wrongly identified as deceased while Joshua was believed to be alive in hospital.
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane, a senior officer at South Yorkshire Police, said the situation had caused a “huge shock” and recognised the “additional trauma” inflicted on both families.
He said: "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.”
The police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to investigate their role in the identification process.
Local MP Jake Richards, who represents Rother Valley, said he was “shocked and saddened” by the incident, describing it as an appalling situation for all those involved.
He said families being wrongly informed about the death or survival of a loved one is “unimaginably distressing” and offered his condolences to Joshua Johnson’s family, as well as his support to Trevor and his relatives.
An 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, while a 19-year-old was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
Both remain on bail pending further enquiries.