Fatal crash ID error emerged ‘after injured boy woke up in hospital’

Relatives of a teenager who were told he had died in a car crash discovered he was still alive when he woke up in hospital, a family friend has said.

South Yorkshire Police believed Trevor “TJ” Wynn, 17, had died alongside Summer Louise Scott, 17, in a collision near Rotherham on 13 December, while fellow passenger Joshua Johnson, 18, was seriously injured.

However, police said “information came to light” on Sunday which confirmed it was actually Joshua who had died alongside Summer, with Trevor left seriously injured.

Jonathan Stoner, who had been helping to raise funds for Trevor’s funeral, said the error was discovered after he regained consciousness and said his name and date of birth.

The collision happened in Todwick Road, between Dinnington and Todwick, in the early hours of the morning when a silver Toyota Corolla crashed off the road.

Stoner, who organised a charity boxing event to help cover Trevor’s funeral expenses in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, said Trevor’s family called him after the event had been held.

“They rung me and said, ‘sit down’, so I sat down.

“They said, ‘TJ’s not dead’ – I didn’t know what to say.”

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.

Both remain on bail pending further inquiries, police said on Wednesday.

Stoner said: “How do you even come to terms with that?

“You’ve had to tell all your family, all the grandkids, that TJ’s passed away.

“Now how are you going to go up to them kids’ faces and tell them he’s alive?”

He continued: “Do you tell them in happiness? Because he’s still in a bad place, he’s not fully out of it yet.”

Stoner, who runs Ignite Strength and Fitness, has pledged to hold a further fundraising event for the family of Joshua.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, South Yorkshire Police said “concerns” had been raised about the identities of those killed.

A spokesperson said “information came to light” on Sunday which prompted “further formal identification processes, including forensics, to be undertaken” and resulted in the mistake being identified.

Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane said he had offered to meet with both sets of parents to discuss the matter.

He said: “This has obviously come as a huge shock to everyone and we recognise the additional trauma this may cause.”

The force referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) since identifying the error.

The IOPC said it was assessing the referral to determine whether an investigation was required.