Florida Woman Fighting to Prove She's Alive

In today’s digital age a keystroke error can quickly add up to much more than an embarrassing typo.

A 59-year-old Florida woman is learning this the hard way after she was mistakenly declared dead by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles nearly two years ago.

Eva Brown discovered her own untimely death not too long ago when she and her husband, Ray, attempted to use the state’s online system to change the address on her driver’s license, WTSP reported. It seems the computer system couldn’t find her records. A call to customer service resulted in delivery of the grim news, the station noted.

The agent informed Brown state records indicated she’d been dead since June 20, 2013. The snafu, the agent said, was likely due to a keystroke error.

Now, the Jacksonville woman, who is very much alive, has to prove that fact. It seems doing so requires her existing license, marriage license, social security card and other forms of identification, the Palm Beach Post noted.

This is the second time in recent weeks where a keystroke error is likely to blame for official records blunders. Tammy Lemasters, a mother of three, recently discovered her driver’s license had her labeled as a “sexual predator” instead of an organ donor. Lemasters said the mistake has caused her embarrassment and even resulted in her being unable to book a hotel room. She and her lawyers have filed a notice of intent to sue the Lake County Tax Collector’s Office for defamation.

That case brought to light the state’s plans to update its motor vehicle software to include a popup window that will ask workers if they truly want to use the label “sexual predator” on a license. It is unclear if the new system will provide the same safeguard for declaring drivers deceased.

Image via Shutterstock

See Also:

• Mom Mistakenly Labeled Sexual Predator on License Plans to Sue
• Woman Racked Up 3 DUIs in 6 Days, Deputies Say
• Watch: Armed Robber Smacks into Closed Elevator Doors

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