Police who named wrong fatal car crash victim 'used family description and ID card', coroner hears
The Independent Office for Police Conduct said it would examine the circumstances surrounding the misidentification of the two teenagers and whether policies and procedures were "followed appropriately".
Thursday 8 January 2026 14:49, UK
A police officer who wrongly identified the victim of a car crash relied on the family's description of him and a photo ID card when he tried to establish who he was, a coroner has been told.
South Yorkshire Police (SYP) admitted this week that Joshua Johnson, 18, died following a collision on Todwick Road, Rotherham, in December, along with a 17-year-old girl.
The force had originally said Trevor Wynn, 17, was the male killed in the incident and Mr Johnson was badly injured in hospital.
But then SYP referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) this week after new "information came to light", which had prompted further identification processes being undertaken.
The IOPC is investigating how the misidentification occurred, promising to "carefully examine" whether procedures were "followed appropriately".
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Knowles told Doncaster Coroner's Court on Thursday that Mr Johnson's father raised concerns over possible misidentification last week, when the person he had been told was his son came out of sedation at Rotherham Hospital.
Mr Johnson has now been confirmed as the male who died "to a high degree of certainty" using his dental records, DCI Knowles added.
College ID used for identification
"A number of items of personal property were found at the scene, though were not physically about the person of either of the males," he said.
Those items included "a phone in a case which also contained the driving licence of Joshua Johnson", while a second phone nearby "showed some medical ID information and was in the name of Trevor Wynn". DCI Knowles said a bank card in the same name was also attached.
DCI Knowles told the court how an officer described using the information available to establish next of kin details for Mr Wynn and then spoke to his mother.
He said Mr Wynn's mother provided the officer with a college ID card, as well as a description of her son's build and footwear.
The officer took the card to the mortuary, where he compared the ID to the features of the previously unidentified body. "The officer was satisfied that this was the body of Trevor Wynn," DCI Knowles said.
Family's 'unimaginable' ordeal
In a statement, Mr Johnson's family said they had been through an "unimaginable" ordeal.
"From the moment we were told about the collision in December, ourselves and many loved ones have spent hours in hospital with who we now know to be Trevor," the family said.
"We never wanted him to be alone. Only those we shared this time with could understand how this went on for so long."
Read more:
Tribute paid to teenager who died in crash
Two 17-year-olds die after car crashes into tree
The IOPC said it would "look at the actions and decision-making of police involved in the identification process".
IOPC director Emily Barry said: "My sincere condolences and thoughts go out to all those involved. It's hard to imagine what these families have been through in the past few weeks.
"It is clear something has gone very wrong with awful consequences for them."
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Police previously said an 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and a 19-year-old was held on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
Both have been bailed pending further inquiries.