A police force has admitted mixing up the identities of an 18-year-old killed in a car crash with another teenager who survived the collision.
South Yorkshire Police wrongly told relatives of Trevor Wynn, 17, that he had died in the crash near Rotherham on 13 December.
Meanwhile, the force incorrectly identified Joshua Johnson, 18, as having survived the collision, which also resulted in the death of a 17-year-old girl.
Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane said the force had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct since identifying the error, adding that he was aware of “the additional trauma this may cause”.
The force said the mistake had been spotted after “concerns were raised” about the identities of those killed in the crash.
A spokesperson said that “information came to light” on Sunday, prompting “further formal identification processes, including forensics, to be undertaken”.
McFarlane said he had since offered to meet with both sets of parents to discuss the mistake.
He said: “This has obviously come as a huge shock to everyone and we recognise the additional trauma this may cause.
“We are supporting Trevor and all the families through this and have engaged specialist agencies to help provide that support.
“I have also offered to meet with both sets of parents as I am sure they will have many questions, most of which we are not able to answer yet but we are absolutely committed to understanding how this happened so it cannot happen again.”
He said South Yorkshire Police would fully cooperate with any subsequent investigation by the police watchdog.
The force said Johnson’s family had been informed that the person under sedation in hospital for more than three weeks was, in fact, Wynn.
Wynn was not named publicly by South Yorkshire Police at the time, but was widely identified on social media and in local news outlets as having died in the collision.
An 18-year-old who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and a 19-year-old arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in connection with the crash both remain on bail pending further enquiries.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct said it was assessing the referral to determine whether an investigation was required.
