Las Vegas woman mistakenly told husband died in hit-and-run crash

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A Las Vegas mother said she felt her life shatter when she learned her husband died in a hit-and-run crash.

However, days later, Metro police told Esther Acosta he was actually alive and recovering, and stated that the Clark County Coroner misidentified him.

When Acosta learned her husband was continuing to recover at a hospital, she started visiting him daily. When she’s not at the hospital, she’s home with her two daughters Selah and Hope, taking life one step at a time.

“Currently a single mom right now because my husband is in the hospital,” Acosta said.

On September 15, Metro sent out a release referring to Acosta’s husband, Brandon Green, saying, “The pedestrian was transported to the University Medical Center Trauma Center where he is being treated for his injuries.”

A couple of days later, Metro sent out an update, saying “…a representative from the Clark County Coroner’s Office advised the LVMPD Collision Investigation Section that the pedestrian had succumbed to his injuries at the University Medical Center and was pronounced deceased.”

Acosta was devastated to hear the news.

“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,” she said

The following day, Metro police sent out an update saying the coroner’s office misidentified him as someone else who died, and he was still alive.

“How can someone mistakenly be dead? Did my husband’s heart stop?” Acosta said.

Now he’s in the hospital suffering from brain bleeding, blood clots, and fractures. Doctors tell Acosta he’ll be there for at least two to three months. As for whoever hit Green with their car, Metro told 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,” Acosta said.

Acosta said she’s been getting through it thanks to the support of friends, family, and the community. She said she’s able to make it every day because of their love, care, and compassion.

LVMPD said the car they’re looking for is a white Acura TSX, possibly from 2011-2014 with damage to the windshield, grill, and bumper.

Her family has set up a GoFundMe to support recovery costs.

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