A remarkable rescue occurred in Newton County, Indiana, when law enforcement discovered Brieonna Cassell, a 41-year-old woman, alive after she had been missing for six days. Cassell had been trapped in her overturned vehicle after a crash that sent her car into a ditch.

The Incident

On a Wednesday night, Cassell visited her mother, Kim Brown. However, by the following days, Brown had not heard from her daughter, prompting concern. According to Cassell’s father, Delmar Caldwell, she had a fatal accident while driving. “She just fell asleep, and… there was a bridge there, and she just veered over to the left and missed the bridge,” Caldwell explained. Subsequently, her car ended up in a deep ditch, and the rear was submerged in water.

Failed Sightings

Over the course of six days, numerous vehicles passed Cassell’s location without noticing her. “There are over 400 cars that were passing her a day,” Brown shared, underscoring the dire situation.

The Discovery

The breakthrough came when Johnny Martinez, an employee of Deyoung Drainage, glimpsed the vehicle while operating a tractor nearby. He didn’t initially believe anyone was inside but sought assistance from Morocco Fire Chief Jeremy Vanderwall for a closer inspection. Vanderwall recounts, “I didn’t see anybody in it. There was something white on the dash… I just assumed it was an airbag.” However, as he moved closer, he noticed it was in fact Cassell.

Rescue Operation

After confirming there was indeed a person in the car, Vanderwall quickly contacted emergency services. “When I got down to her, she had some dry blood on her forehead,” he recalled. When he asked Cassell how long she had been there, she mistakenly believed it was only a day when in reality, it had been almost a week.

Cassell revealed her struggle for survival, stating she had resorted to using her sweater as a tool to collect water from the ditch. Vanderwall noted her resilience, describing her will to live as “uncanny.”

Aftermath

Cassell was subsequently airlifted to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for treatment. Her family expressed deep gratitude toward Martinez and Vanderwall, emphasizing that their intervention was crucial to her survival. Brown mentioned, “I just can’t wait to hug her and kiss her.”

Reflection

This harrowing experience serves as a reminder to stay connected with loved ones. Brown stressed the importance of utilizing tracking devices or apps as a safety measure. This incident parallels another case from December 2023, when Matt Reum survived for six days trapped in a ravine following an accident, highlighting the ongoing dangers faced by drivers.