South Yorkshire Police informed a devastated family that their teenage son had perished in a tragic car accident just days before Christmas, only for him to later emerge from a coma.
The authorities reported that Trevor Wynn, aged 17, was pronounced dead shortly before 3am on December 13, following a fatal incident where a silver Toyota Corolla veered off the road. Astonishingly, the family’s grief turned to disbelief three weeks later when the supposedly deceased boy regained consciousness in a hospital bed and identified himself to medical staff.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, it was revealed that 18-year-old Joshua Johnson had tragically lost his life in the crash, while law enforcement mistakenly believed he was the individual undergoing treatment at the medical facility. The driver of the vehicle, 17-year-old Summer Louise Scott, also lost her life in the tragic incident.
The Wynn family had been preparing for Trevor’s funeral to take place on Friday during the Christmas holidays, only for the shocking revelation of his survival to overturn their plans.
Following the incident, an 18-year-old was apprehended on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, while a 19-year-old was taken into custody on suspicion of obstructing justice. Both individuals are currently on bail pending further investigations.
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane acknowledged, “We have opted to report ourselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to review our involvement in the identification procedures post the road traffic collision.”
Initially, Trevor’s family had been informed that he was one of the two individuals who lost their lives in the early morning crash on December 13. However, the 17-year-old miraculously survived the collision but remained in a coma for three weeks.
It wasn’t until 22 days after the accident that Trevor’s family was informed of his survival, reshaping their Christmas plans from mourning to relief.
On the other hand, Joshua Johnson’s family was initially informed that their son was still alive and fighting for his life in the hospital during the festive season, only to later discover that he had passed away in the collision.
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane of South Yorkshire Police expressed the force’s acknowledgment of the potentially distressing impact of the situation.
The tragic incident occurred on Todwick Road near Dinnington in South Yorkshire, where the vehicle involved in the crash veered off the road.