A coroner revealed that a 17-year-old boy was mistakenly identified as a victim in a fatal car crash due to incorrect information provided by his family and a photo ID card. The incident occurred in Rotherham on December 13, where Joshua Johnson, 18, and a 17-year-old girl lost their lives in a collision. Initially, the police mistakenly identified the deceased male as Trevor Wynn, 17.
Following the tragic mix-up, Detective Chief Inspector Andy Knowles from South Yorkshire Police addressed the misidentification concerns raised by Joshua’s father, which led to the correct identification of Mr. Johnson through dental records.
The fatal accident involved a silver Toyota Corolla that struck a tree on Todwick Road, resulting in the death of two teenagers and serious injuries to another. The police force has self-referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for an investigation into their identification process.
In a statement released by Mr. Johnson’s family, they described him as a “loveable, gentle giant” and expressed the unimaginable grief they are experiencing. They requested privacy as they come to terms with their loss and highlighted Mr. Johnson’s caring nature and his passion for stock car racing.
Two individuals, an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old, have been arrested in connection with the incident and are currently on bail pending further inquiries.