Deborah Byrne, of Northampton, was browsing Facebook one day in May, when she began seeing tributes to her 21-year-old daughter Brogan Warren.
Confused, she scrolled through her news feed and saw more rest in peace posts in tribute to Brogan.
“I just remember seeing lots of RIP messages,” Deborah told The Sun newspaper.
One friend wrote “Gone too soon” while another Facebook user wrote “I can’t believe the news.
“Then a friend of Brogan’s wrote to me “I’m so sorry” in a private message, so I asked what the hell she was talking about.”
She said the friend told her “there had been a horrific crash the night before, on May 22, and she would be there for me.”
“That’s when I started screaming. Brogan was dead. At that moment my heart shattered.”
After confirming the tragic news, Deborah called her ex Joff, who she separated from 16 years ago. Joff is Brogan’s biological dad.
“He was devastated, couldn’t believe what I was telling him.”
Joff then told their eldest daughter, Taylia that her sister was dead.
Deborah received official word of Brogan’s death from Thames Valley Police on May 23 at 1 p.m. The police told her that Brogan was killed along with 3 of her friends, Sam Jones, 23, Nicoletta Tocco, 25, and Sam Kay, 26. The four friends died when a Citroen Saxo driven by Sam Jones was involved in a head on collision with a Mercedes being driven by a man from Swindon, Wiltshire.
The man survived the crash. He was hospitalized, along with his wife and their three-year-old child.
Deborah said she didn’t blame the police.
“I didn’t blame anyone, but it compounded my heartache. “The police said they’d knocked at my door in the early hours, but couldn’t raise me.
“I recall hearing the dog barking, but didn’t think anything of it.”
She police informed the other passengers’ families and she said that’s how the word spread on Facebook.
Toxicology reports found that Jones, the driver, had weed and alcohol in his system. His car drifted into the opposite lane causing the fatal crash.
“I never thought this would happen to our family. Brogan was such a lovely, kind girl and now we don’t have her anymore and I’ve been left with so much pain,” Deborah said.
My #1 social media rule is to not post anything concerning anyone’s death until I see that a very close family member has posted. I remember reading a similar story about another mother finding out her son passed after being shot at a party. Private citizens have become like the media, feeling like they have to be first to report the news. Please people, be considerate of the family. PLEASE!
My cousin wrecked his bike, his friends at the scene had him head bloody motionless at the scene before the ambulance was even there. And they had the nerve to cuss out family members that asked them to take it down bc it was inappropriate and we hadn’t reach my aunt yet. He survived but we had no idea because it was just a pic with his brains in the street…
Social media is the devils tool. Yes it can be informative but the devil uses it too.
The same thing happened to my Uncle. He was at the zoo with my cousins son when he saw lots of tributes on FB to my cousin. He was very worried trying to call my cousin and could not reach him, then he got word from authorities that my cousin had passed away in an accident. That was several hours after he saw it on FB. That’s one reason I don’t do social media!
How rude is this? ?
Wow. Didn’t know the devil has a computer.
*Googles*
“Citroën Saxo”
Memo to self :
Citroën Saxo
Lately his/her server has been acting up.
We have found out about a young loved one like this. Its very sad.
WOW
What is his Twitter @?
LOLLOLLOL!!!!!!
What a sad way to find out your daughter is deceased… Still, thank god for social media. It’s a shock to find out that way but at least she was able to find out the about situation since the police weren’t able to reach her…
Right
LOLLOLLOL!!!!!
I bet nobody would give up their cellphone.
Took me a minute but… I see what you did there.
This is aweful! I cant imagine finding out a loved one passed via social media. After reading the RIP’s my initial thought was blow up her cell phone to confirm if she’ll answer or not.
I have learned that ppl like to be the first to tell it
Stop!?
No Sir!! Lol!?
He is the Prince of Air&Communication so actually he does.?
this is so tragic. My heart goes out to this family!
I know if someone who found out their family member was dead via FB…a close one too. Very sad. I never post tributes until a see a family member do it
awful.. my heart goes out to her!
Why did she think this couldn’t happen to her family? A terrible tragedy like this can happen to anyone, however I’m sorry that this happened. Hope her and her family put their hope and faith in God , that he may help them to endure their horrific pain. RIP!
So sad.
Yeah. This may get a little long. When we buried our youngest sibling many, many years ago, I remember my step-sister saying something similar. My youngest sibling and step-sister have the same mom.
My step sister told me months after the funeral how they found out the youngest was gone. She was watching the news at work in the breakroom. Yep, true story. So happens the address on my sister’s ID (her mom had since moved) was now the residence of a family who knew our father. They called him and told him to contact the police because she was in a bad accident (was only 18).
I hate reading this about the mom’s story. Condolences to their family. I can’t get upset at the friends and online people for saying RIP or offering prayers, but it’s a tough pill to swallow because you don’t know if it’s true and if it is, your world crashes upon hearing it and confirmation of it.
Here in ATL, if y’all remember in 2016 when the three guys died in that accident on 75 (buford spring, overpass, etc); One of the guys’ sister said their family found out about him passing because IG. His family follows him of course, so all of a sudden they kept seeing RIP, RIP I’m going to miss you. She said then a phone call came and she had to go ID his body. It all sucks, but what can you do?
yep. I agree with this. When someone from the family posts, then I’ll comment.
It’s not a good feeling and one time you’re hoping it’s a hoax.
Hell, I found out I was gay, I’m Facebook.
On a serious note… I found out a family member was dead after I sent the police to his home for a wellness check. I will never forget that day! ?
So sad prayers to this family
So sad. I had a very good friend who told me he was going to come visit me on his new motorcycle. He was like.. 55 or so. After riding for 40 years I told him he was crazy to buy a bike. Last words to him were, “don’t kill yourself before you get up here;. Months later, Youtube. I still have his contact in my Skype, can’t bring myself to delete it.
NOTHING like what this mom went through though.
Talk about a nightmare. Very sad.
Very sad. May she Rest In Peace.
What???
I tell you this is sad. Normally when your pet is doing all of that barking that should send up an alert like someone outside your home. poor thing May her daughter RIP
I found our my father passed away on facebook…. he wasn’t dead 15 min and someone posted it. .. the doctor didn’t even tell us yet… fvck facebook bi#ches that do dumb stuff like that!!!!!
EXACTLY, MOST DOGS DON’T BARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT FOR NOTHING BUT THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I DO NOT DRINK OR RIDE WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DRINKING UNLESS THEY LET ME DRIVE US HOME. EVERYONE KNOWS I DON’T DRINK AND I CAN DRIVE ANYTHING SO THEY ALWAYS KNOW THEY HAVE AN AUTOMATIC DESINATED DRIVER WHICH I DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH…….JENNY JONES!!!!
“Everyone knows I don’t drink and can drive anything…”
THIS is very important, before any young girl reaches party age she should be able to drive anything!
Lol! The Prince of the power of the air huh?
Funny!