Woman grieving husband ‘killed’ in hit-and-run finds out he is actually alive

A devastated woman was told her husband died after being hit by a car – but it turned out that was not true.

A Las Vegas woman’s world was shattered last month when police revealed her husband was killed in a car crash – only to find out a day later he was actually alive in a nearby hospital.

Esther Acosta said she grieved Brandon Green’s death for an entire day before Las Vegas police realised they had a case of mistaken identity, NY Post reports.

“How can someone mistakenly be dead? Did my husband’s heart stop?” Ms Acosta told local television station News8.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a September 15 statement that “a pedestrian” had been struck in a hit-and-run and rushed to a trauma centre to be treated for injuries.

Two days later, police announced the victim had died – and identified him as Mr Green, 37.

Esther Acosta said she could not believe her husband was ‘dead’. Picture: 8newsnow

Ms Acosta said she was devastated by the news and began planning her and their two daughters’ new life without their dad.

“It’s like I had been hit, you know like I was just in complete shock. It was unbelievable. I just couldn’t believe it,” Ms Acosta told the outlet.

Just one day later, the Las Vegas police released an update claiming the Clark County Coroner’s Office made a wrong ID in the case and that someone else was killed in the crash.

“Mr Green has not succumbed to his injuries and is still receiving medical treatment at UMC (University Medical Center). He remains in critical condition,” the press release stated.

According to an October 16 online fundraiser, Mr Green was released from intensive care after one month – but is expected to remain in the hospital for at least another three.

The 37-year-old was ‘left for dead’ by the driver. Picture: GoFundMe

The accident left him with brain bleeding, blood clots and fractures, his family said.

Ms Acosta and her two daughters, Selah and Hope, visit Mr Green at the hospital daily.

The family is making it through the emotional trauma thanks to the support of family, friends and the community.

The suspect who left Mr Green “for dead on the road” is still on the loose. Police told Ms Acosta they’ve narrowed down a vehicle, but no license plate or suspect.

“You should be frightened with living knowing you did that for the rest of your life and not saying anything, you should be frightened about that, not about the consequences. The consequences are the least of it,” Ms Acosta said.

Las Vegas police said the suspect’s car is a white Acura TSX, possibly from 2011-2014 with damage to the windshield, grill and bumper.

Neither police nor the Clark County Coroner responded to request for comment.

This story was originally published by the New York Post and reproduced with permission