Whitney Cerak

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Whitney Cerak is an American student who was mistakenly identified as another person, following a car accident which killed five people. [1] The case of mistaken identity made national and international headlines [2] [3] and prompted proposed legislations in the states of Michigan and Indiana concerning stricter guidelines in the identification of bodies by coroners. [4] [5]

Cerak was misidentified as Laura Van Ryn, a fellow student from Taylor University following an accident on April 26, 2006. Both of them were in the same van which violently collided with a semi-trailer killing five people and critically injuring four others. [6] Due to the severity of the injuries which included severe head trauma as well as some physical similarities between the two women, Cerak was taken care of by the Van Ryn family in the belief that she was their daughter. More than five weeks passed before the mistake was realized.

Whitney Cerak returned to Taylor University for the fall 2006 semester and has regained full physical and mental health. Since the incident, the Cerak and Van Ryn families have maintained a close relationship and have co-written a book together detailing their experience entitled Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope.

[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Case of mistaken identity stuns families. USA Today - Theodore Kim. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
  2. ^ Mistaken identity has family keeping vigil over wrong woman. CBC News. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  3. ^ Coma woman mix-up pains US family. BBC News. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  4. ^ Summer Study Committee Presents Ideas for Laws. Indiana House Republicans. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  5. ^ State Representative tries to prevent future identity mix-ups. WZZM13 NEWS. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  6. ^ In Loving Memory. Taylor University. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  7. ^ Whitney Cerak, crash survivor in ID mix-up, writes book. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
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