A family experienced a shocking ordeal when they were mistakenly informed that their son had passed away, only to later discover that he was actually alive. South Yorkshire Police initially reported that Trevor Wynn, 17, had died in a tragic accident, but he was found to be alive in a hospital. Trevor, also known as TJ, survived a crash in Rotherham, contrary to the police’s initial announcement indicating his death.
Tragically, two other teenagers lost their lives in the same incident. A silver Toyota Corolla, traveling away from Dinnington, South Yorkshire, veered off the road, resulting in the fatal collision. Among the victims were 18-year-old Joshua Johnson and an unnamed 17-year-old girl who was driving. Initially, authorities believed Joshua was hospitalized, only to later realize that the injured teen was actually Trevor.
Subsequent investigations and identification processes were initiated by the police following new information that came to light. Trevor’s family, who had set up a GoFundMe page mourning his supposed death, shared the updated situation online. They acknowledged the police error in identifying the wrong person and expressed their gratitude for the support received.
The family revealed that Trevor had endured a severe life-altering experience and faces a challenging road to recovery, including medical treatment, rehabilitation, travel, accommodation, and related expenses. They emphasized the importance of continued support and understanding during this difficult time.
The funeral arrangements for Trevor had to be revised upon discovering he was alive. An 18-year-old was arrested for suspected dangerous driving causing death, while a 19-year-old was arrested for allegedly obstructing justice. Both individuals are currently on bail pending further investigation.
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane acknowledged the shock caused by the mix-up and assured support for Trevor and all affected families. The police have taken steps to involve external agencies in providing necessary assistance and have initiated a self-referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for review. They are committed to understanding the incident to prevent similar errors in the future.