In a remarkable turn of events, 41-year-old Brieonna Cassell, a mother of three from Indiana, was found alive on Tuesday after being trapped in her crashed car for six harrowing days. Cassell had gone missing last week, and her disappearance had sparked widespread concern among her family and friends.
The discovery
Brieonna Cassell was located by a passerby working in the area, who noticed a vehicle off the roadway near Brooklyn, a small town in northern Indiana. According to a statement from the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the man immediately contacted his supervisor, Jeremy Vanderwell, who also serves as the fire chief in the nearby town of Morocco. Vanderwell and the passerby approached the vehicle, where they discovered Cassell alone inside, conscious and speaking.
“She was very conscious, very alert, very aware of how severe her injuries were,” Vanderwell said. The sheriff’s office confirmed that Cassell was found with broken ribs, a fractured arm, both legs injured, and a large scratch on her forehead.
A grueling six days
Cassell’s ordeal began last Wednesday when she was driving through the small town of Brook, roughly 80 miles south of Chicago. According to reports, Cassell fell asleep at the wheel, causing her vehicle to veer off the road and crash into an embankment. With no way to contact anyone due to her phone’s dead battery, Cassell was left stranded in the remote area.
“I didn’t think anybody was going to find me. I thought I was going to die in this ditch,” she said after being rescued. Despite her dire circumstances, she managed to survive by using her resourcefulness. Cassell dipped her sweater into a nearby creek and wrung out the water to stay hydrated.
Family’s relief
Cassell’s family had been desperate for any news of her whereabouts since her disappearance. Her father, Delmar Caldwell, explained that the lack of a working phone and the severe conditions left her with few options. But Cassell’s mother, Kim Brown, said she had a premonition that something was wrong.
“I could feel something was wrong in my gut and I started panicking,” Brown recalled. “I just can’t wait to hug her and kiss her. It’s going to be a long road to recovery.”
Immediate medical attention
Following her rescue, Cassell was swiftly transported to a hospital in Chicago, where she was placed in the ICU. She will undergo surgery to address her injuries. Despite the severity of her condition, Cassell’s survival after such a prolonged period without assistance has been hailed as nothing short of miraculous.
A community’s support
The local community, along with Cassell’s family, is now rallying around her as she begins her long recovery. Vanderwell expressed admiration for the strength Cassell demonstrated throughout her ordeal, noting that her awareness and alertness played a crucial role in her survival.
The Newton County Sheriff’s Office has praised the efforts of those involved in the rescue, including the passerby and Vanderwell, for their prompt actions in locating Cassell and ensuring she received immediate medical attention.
As Cassell faces a challenging road to recovery, her family remains hopeful and thankful for her miraculous survival.
