Columbus coroner misidentifies pedestrian killed on Fort Benning Road. Here’s what happened
If you search the name “Cynthia Griswould,” you’ll find several news articles identifying her as the pedestrian killed by a truck on Fort Benning Road Sunday evening.
But Griswould is very much alive.
That’s what Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan told the Ledger-Enquirer Tuesday morning after his office erroneously reported her death.
In a phone interview, Bryan said a retired Columbus police officer viewed the body and identified the woman as his sister. The office became aware of their error late Monday when Bryan received a picture of Griswould holding her state identification card.
A family member of Griswould’s told the Ledger-Enquirer that they did not want to comment on the matter. Bryan said that nothing like this has happened in his decade as county coroner.
“He positively identified her as his sister, Ms. Griswould. So, we ran with it,” Bryan said. “It’s not my fault.”
The coroner’s office took fingerprints from the deceased pedestrian Tuesday morning and is in the process of notifying the pedestrian’s family, Bryan said.
The Ledger-Enquirer will update this story when the pedestrian’s name is released.
This story was originally published February 1, 2022 at 11:28 AM.