Responses
While I don't know if it's everywhere the same, if you go to a hospital and ask about someone's private information you can't just get that. You'll have to give some proof to show that you are related to that person and even then you may not get this information.
But I guess it would be possible to ask around if his body is really dead due to the accident.
Can't he do a quick google search or something to see if he died? Or go to the hospital and see records?