Newton County, Indiana: An Indiana woman who had been missing for six days was found alive on Tuesday, March 11, inside her crashed vehicle in Brooklyn. According to a statement from the Newton County Sheriff's Office, the woman, identified as Brieonna Cassell, was found by a passerby who was operating an equipment in the area.
The individual spotted a car off the road and promptly alerted his supervisor, Jeremy Vanderwell, who is also the fire chief in the nearby town of Morocco.
According to a report by ABC7 Chicago, the Sheriff's office revealed that Cassell was found alone in the car, "conscious and speaking". She reportedly had broken ribs and fractured arms and legs, with a big scratch on her forehead.
"She was very conscious, very alert, very aware of how severe her injuries were," the Sheriff told the publication.
Cassel was severely injured and trapped inside the car for six days, yet responsive. She was immediately rushed to the Chicago hospital for treatment and was admitted to the ICU and underwent a surgery.
Cassell, a 41-year-old mother of three, had visited a friend's home near the towns of Wheatfield and DeMotte last Wednesday (March 5).
While driving through the small town of Brook, approximately 80 miles south of Chicago, she reportedly fell asleep at the wheel. As a result, her vehicle veered off the road and became lodged in an embankment.
Following her rescue, Cassell recounted her ordeal, saying, "I didn't think anybody was going to find me. I thought I was going to die in this ditch," as cited by ABC7 Chicago.
Her father, Delmar Caldwell, explained that her phone battery had died, leaving her unable to call for help. To survive, she relied on a nearby creek, soaking her sweater in the water and wringing it out to drink.
Her mother, Kim Brown, described the distress she felt during Cassell’s disappearance. "I could feel something was wrong in my gut and I started panicking. I just can't wait to hug her and kiss her. It's going to be a long road to recovery," she told the publication.
