LAURA VANRYN’S family kept a vigil by the hospital bed for five weeks after the crash, waiting for their daughter to come out of a coma.

Every step of her arduous recovery — from the first squint of her eyes to her first coherent speech — was lovingly chronicled by the family on an internet blog.

But as the young blonde woman finally came round, the VanRyns discovered that the bruised and swollen patient was not their daughter at all. In a macabre mix-up, Miss VanRyn had been mistaken for her college friend Whitney Cerak, who was thought to have died in the crash that killed five and had already had a funeral.

It was Miss Cerak, who bore a strong physical resemblance, who had survived the accident and was in the hospital bed.

“Our hearts are aching as we have learnt that the young woman we have been taking care of over the past five weeks has not been our dear Laura, but instead a fellow student of hers, Whitney Cerak,” the VanRyns wrote.

“There was a misidentification made at the time of the accident and it is uncanny the resemblance that these two women share.”

The case embarrassed local officials and hospital staff — but brought joy to Miss Cerak’s family.

“It’s just so unbelievable,” the Rev Emil Frank, Miss Cerak’s grandfather, said. “But we feel just as much for the family that found out it was not their daughter.”

Miss VanRyn, 22, and Miss Cerak, 18, were travelling in a van on April 26 with other students from Taylor University, Indiana, after preparing a banquet for the inauguration of a new president at the evangelical Christian college.

About ten miles from the college campus in Upland, a lorry veered across the central reservation of Interstate 69 and smashed into them. Police are considering criminal charges against the lorry driver, who may have fallen asleep.

Five passengers in the van were declared dead at the scene, but one survivor, who had been thrown 50ft through the air, was taken to hospital. Ron Mowery, the local coroner, said that by the time he arrived at the scene, the survivor had been identified by acquaintances as Miss VanRyn.

“What happened was, at the point of impact, there were identifications, purses, wallets and other personal effects strewn all about the accident scene,” Mr Mowery said. In fact, it was Miss Cerak who was taken from the scene with Miss VanRyn’s photo identification.

The survivor was treated in Fort Wayne before being moved to a rehabilitation centre in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on May 18. She had facial swelling and was wearing a neck brace.

It was Miss VanRyn’s boyfriend who first questioned the survivor’s identity. Miss VanRyn’s father also became suspicious when she called him a pet name that he did not recognise. On a couple of occasions, the family addressed her as Laura and she said: “No, Whitney”.

“While certain things seem to be coming back to her, she still has times where she’ll say things that don’t make much sense,” the VanRyns reported on Monday.

When she became more lucid, the patient told the VanRyns who she was and wrote down her name. The VanRyns contacted the Ceraks and the families raised their concerns with the hospital, which used dental records to confirm the survivor’s identity.

The families, both devout Christians, said in a statement: “Our families are supporting each other in prayer, and we thank our families, friends and communities for their prayers.”

Miss Cerak’s funeral had been held in her home town of Gaylord, Michigan. Her parents had not viewed the body because they wanted to remember her the way she was. Now the VanRyns will have to decide if they want to exhume the body.

The VanRyns have said that they forgive the error because even they were confused.

“Both families understand how this could have happened,” they said.

EXTRACTS FROM THE VANRYNS' WEBLOG

Friday April 28

“The family is encouraged by signs of progress. It is apparent that she feels pain, which is actually a good sign”

Tuesday May 2

“Laura’s surgeries today went great! She’ll be more entertaining going through metal detectors now”

Friday May 12

“This is not the movies — the eyes just don’t pop open and everything is back to normal. It is a gradual awakening process”

Saturday May 13

“She is now in a state of ‘minimal consciousness’ — making a lot of spontaneous moments and becoming more active”

Tuesday May 16

“Laura started talking to us! She said, “Hi”, and Dad said, “can you say Pops?”, and she said, “Pops.”

Thursday May 25

“As Laura relearns how to express herself and tell us things that she needs or wants, it can be frustrating for her — especially when she tries to say something and we don’t understand”

Friday May 26

“As far as recognising us . . . we think that sometimes she does, and sometimes she doesn’t”

Monday May 29

“While certain things seem to be coming back to her, she still has times where she’ll say things that don’t make much sense”

Wednesday May 31

“Our hearts are aching that the young woman has not been our dear Laura. We rejoice with the Ceraks, that they will have more time on this Earth with their daughter, their loved one”

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