A 17-year-old teenager was initially misidentified as the victim of a tragic car crash based on information provided by his family and a photo ID card presented to a police officer, as revealed in a coroner’s report.
During a hearing at Doncaster Coroner’s Court, it came to light that Joshua Johnson, 18, had tragically lost his life in a collision in Rotherham on December 13, along with a 17-year-old girl. Initially, the police had mistakenly identified the deceased male as Trevor Wynn, 17.
The police watchdog acknowledged that a serious error had occurred, leading to devastating consequences for both families involved.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Knowles from South Yorkshire Police recounted during the hearing how Joshua’s father raised suspicions of misidentification when the person initially identified as his son regained consciousness at Rotherham Hospital.
Following confirmation through dental records, Mr. Johnson was positively identified as the deceased teenage male.
The incident involved a fatal crash where two teenagers lost their lives and another sustained serious injuries after the silver Toyota Corolla they were traveling in collided with a tree on Todwick Road in Rotherham.
In response to the identification error, the police force has self-referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for an investigation into their identification protocols.
In a statement released through the police, Mr. Johnson’s family described him as a “lovable, gentle giant” and expressed the profound emotional toll of spending time with the misidentified individual in the hospital.
Mr. Johnson’s family fondly remembered him as a caring individual who cherished his family, friends, and the shared experiences in stock car racing. They appreciated the immense support received during their time of grief.
Two individuals, an 18-year-old arrested for causing death by dangerous driving and a 19-year-old detained on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, have been released on bail pending further investigations.
