Parents of misidentified crash survivor to speak in St. Charles

For five weeks, Newell and Colleen Cerak mourned the death of their daughter in a horrific highway crash that killed five people.

This weekend, the Gaylord, Mich., couple will be in St. Charles to discuss the experience of learning it was actually a stunning case of mistaken identity, that their daughter was, in fact, alive.

The Ceraks will take part in three talk-show style presentations Saturday and Sunday at Christ Community Church, 37W100 Bolcum Road. The program, "Mistaken Identity," aims to draw in visitors with a story that is as heartbreaking as it is uplifting, said Brian Beatty, the church's communications director.

"Their grief became what we call triumph over tragedy," he said. "The goal is to connect with people who have been suffering grief and loss."

In a historic identity mix-up, the Ceraks initially believed their daughter Whitney was among those killed in an April 26, 2006, crash in Grant County, Ind. But it turned out she had been misidentified by authorities and was actually alive and being cared for by another victim's family, who believed her to be their daughter. The tragic accident, involving a van full of students and staff from Upland, Ind., University, also claimed 20-year-old Laurel Erb of St. Charles.

Beatty said the presentations at 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday will take place similar to talk-shows led by Senior Pastor Jim Nicodem.

Admission is free. For more information, visit ccclife.org.