What was the police error in the Joshua Johnson crash?

South Yorkshire Police mistakenly told Joshua Johnson's family he survived a fatal crash, when he had actually died.

How long did families believe the wrong information after the crash?

Families were misinformed for three weeks before the police identified their catastrophic error.

Who were the victims of the Todwick Road crash?

The victims were identified as Joshua Johnson, 18, and Summer Louise Scott, 17, who was driving.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Police Error: Boy Thought Alive for 3 Weeks

Police Error: Boy Thought Alive for 3 Weeks

7 Jan

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Summary

Police mistakenly informed families of Joshua Johnson, 18, that he survived a crash.
Families were grieving the wrong teenager for three weeks due to a police error.
A second teenager, Summer Louise Scott, 17, also died in the fatal collision.

A critical identification error by South Yorkshire Police left two families in agonizing distress for three weeks following a fatal road collision on December 13. Joshua Johnson, 18, was incorrectly reported by officers as having survived the crash, with his family believing he was in intensive care. Meanwhile, the family of Trevor Wynn, 17, were informed of his death and began funeral arrangements.

This devastating mix-up only came to light earlier this month when Trevor Wynn awoke from a coma and identified himself. The tragic reality was that Joshua Johnson and the driver, 17-year-old Summer Louise Scott, had both died at the scene. The accident occurred when a Toyota Corolla left the road and struck a tree near Rotherham.

South Yorkshire Police have since referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to investigate how such an unthinkable error occurred. Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane acknowledged the profound shock and trauma this has caused, offering to meet with the affected families. Investigations into the crash and the subsequent identification process are ongoing, with two arrests already made.