Georgia coroner’s office identifies wrong victim in deadly pedestrian crash

MUSCOGEE COUNTY, Ga. — A Georgia coroner misidentified the victim of a fatal hit and run accident and told the family their loved one was dead, according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.

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The odd case involves the Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan, who has been on the job for 10 years.

Bryan’s office identified a pedestrian who was hit by a truck and killing in Fort Benning Sunday night as Cynthia Griswould.

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Local media outlets picked up the story and Griswould’s name -- but Griswould was very much alive.

Bryan told the Ledger-Enquirer that Griswould’s brother, who is a retired Columbus police officer, identified the body as that of his sister, so he went with it.

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The coroner’s office realized its mistake on Monday when Bryan got a picture of Griswould holding her state identification card.

The coroner’s took fingerprints from the woman who was actually killed Tuesday morning and they are preparing to notify the pedestrian’s family, according to the newspaper.

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