In a shocking turn of events, the Daily Mail has disclosed the first image of Joshua Johnson, an 18-year-old who tragically lost his life in a horrific car crash. The incident has taken a distressing twist as South Yorkshire Police mistakenly informed Joshua’s family that he was alive and recovering in a hospital for nearly three weeks.

The confusion began following the Rotherham collision that occurred during the early hours of December 13. Authorities incorrectly relayed information to Joshua’s relatives, suggesting he had survived the crash, while his fellow passenger, Trevor Wynn, aged 17, was believed to have perished.

This grave error was later rectified, revealing to the grieving families that Trevor had, in fact, survived, and it was Joshua who had succumbed to his injuries. The mix-up led to an unimaginable scenario where Trevor’s family was preparing for a funeral over the Christmas period, while Joshua’s family was holding onto hope that he was fighting for his life in intensive care.

It emerged that the Johnson family visited who they thought was Joshua in the hospital daily. Unfortunately, due to the severity of the injuries, they were unable to realize the misidentification.

Additionally, the Daily Mail has identified the second young victim of the Todwick Road accident as 17-year-old Summer Louise Scott, who was driving the vehicle carrying Trevor and Joshua. This revelation adds another layer of tragedy to an already heart-wrenching incident.

The Daily Mail can also reveal the identity of the second youngster killed in the accident on Todwick Road as 17-year-old Summer Louise Scott, who had been driving Trevor and Joshua.

As questions today mounted over how the unthinkable error by South Yorkshire Police occurred, and why it took 22 days to realise, tributes were paid to racing fanatic Joshua.

Joshua, described as ‘fearless’ by friends, had competed in stockcar competitions across the UK, and had only celebrated passing his driving test in September.

A GoFundMe appeal to raise funeral funds for the teenager described him as an ‘incredible person’.

Joshua Johnson: The family of Joshua, 18, were mistakenly informed by officers that he had survived the collision. He had in fact been pronounced dead at the scene

Trevor Wynn: The family of Trevor, 17, were told he had passed away when he had in fact survived. His family had planned his funeral

Pictured: Joshua Johnson. South Yorkshire Police told Joshua’s family he was battling for life in intensive care – while passing their condolences to the family of Trevor Wynn

Organiser Frances Parker wrote: ‘Josh was one of the kindest, most caring lads you could ever meet, always knowing how to make people smile no matter what they were going through.

‘Josh had a huge passion for racing and been around stockcars, that love for life and adrenaline reflected the person he was – fearless, loyal, and full of heart.

‘Together with his mum, dad, and brother, I want to come together to raise money to give Josh the send-off he truly deserves. One that honours the incredible person he was and the love he gave so freely.

‘Any support, no matter how small, means the world to us and helps us remember and celebrate a truly special soul who will never be forgotten.’

Another friend, Lee Logan, posted images of Joshua on Facebook, along with the caption: ‘Fly high brother. RIP’

He described the accident to an online acquaintance as ‘the three-week mess about one’.

Police initially thought that Trevor, from Worksop, Notts, had died and that Joshua was in hospital receiving treatment under sedation.

The mix-up by South Yorkshire Police was reportedly only discovered when Trevor awoke from his coma earlier this month and told doctors his name.

Sources close to his family said a funeral had even been planned for him this Friday.

It has been claimed that Trevor had not been allowed visitors while in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit because of the trauma of the crash.

One friend said: ‘It’s a lot to get your head around. There are so many unanswered questions.’

Another source close to Trevor’s family branded the mix up as ‘disgusting’.

The vehicle was being driven by Summer Scott, 17, from Worksop, who also died in the tragedy

Summer died when the Toyota in which they were travelling left the road and struck a tree

The vehicle left the carriageway between Dinnington and Todwick, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, pictured

They said: ‘They just can’t take it in – they’re devastated for the other lad’s family as they’ve just gone through it. It’s absolutely disgusting.

‘This poor family have only just started grieving thinking their son was dead and have been preparing for a funeral. The young lad who actually passed away was who they thought was in the coma.’

Flowers had even been laid for Trevor at Valley Young People’s Centre in Worksop when it was still believed that the 17-year-old had died.

Now it is the family of Joshua who are grieving.

Friend Claire Holden wrote on Facebook: ‘We as a family are truly devastated and heartbroken with the news of Josh.

‘We were privileged to watch him grow up from a smiling happy baby into the most caring, loving, polite young man you could ever wish to meet.

‘We watched Josh take his first ever drive in a micro up and down our driveway and then onto track, and was always my ‘go to boy’ in helping with the new younger drivers coming into the formula, with his words of comfort and help. A wonderful young man, with his whole life ahead of him taken far too soon.’

Jake Richard, the MP for Rother Valley, said South Yorkshire Police faces ‘serious questions’ about ‘how such a failure occurred and what safeguards were not in place to prevent it’.

He added: ‘This is an appalling situation for the families involved.’

The crash happened when a silver Toyota Corolla left the carriageway on Todwick Road, near Dinnington, South Yorks.

The vehicle was being driven by Summer Scott, 17, from Worksop, who also died in the tragedy.

Step-sister Chelsy Hall wrote in an online fundraiser: ‘On the 13 of december, my step-sister Summer was in a tragic accident and sadly lost her life at the age of 17.

‘Summer was the light of everyone’s life. If you knew Summer you would all know how much of a kind-hearted and pure soul she had.

‘As this was an unexpected tragedy we kindly ask for any donations to help to give Summer the best send off she deserves, anything big or small will be very appreciated as it takes less stress off her family through this hard time.’

South Yorkshire Police said that information came to light on Sunday that led to further formal identification processes – including forensics – to be undertaken, revealing the error.

Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane acknowledged the ‘huge shock’ and ‘additional trauma’ the mix-up will have caused.

He has offered to meet the parents of both teenagers who he said ‘will have many questions, most of which we are not able to answer yet’.

South Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Colin McFarlane said the force had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) since identifying the error

He added: ‘We have taken the decision to refer ourselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to consider our role in the identification processes which were followed following the road traffic collision.

‘We will co-operate fully with any subsequent investigation and will be led by the IOPC on the next steps to determine how this happened, and how we can ensure this never happens again in the future.’

Jonathan Stoner, 31, a friend of Trevor’s family, said: ‘It has been heartbreaking for them. It all came to light when Trevor came out of a coma in the early hours yesterday (Monday, January 5).

‘The doctors asked him questions like what his name is. That’s when he told him his full name and date of birth. The police then picked up his mum Charlotte who then drove her to the hospital and confirmed it was in fact Trevor. They have no idea how it has all come to happen.’

Mr Stoner added: ‘Parents who have told their kids that Trevor was dead are now going to have to tell them otherwise, which is brutal.’

Following the crash, 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 enquiries.

Daily Mail has approached South Yorkshire Police and asked what identification checks were carried out.

The force has not yet responded.