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An Indiana woman named Brieonna Cassell demonstrated remarkable tenacity after surviving six days trapped in her car following a severe accident. The 41-year-old mother of three, from Wheatfield, Indiana, managed to stay alive by drawing water from a nearby creek with her clothing after breaking both legs in the crash.
According to her father, Delmar Caldwell, Brieonna is currently in the hospital recovering, and he expressed his admiration for her resilience. “She’s in good spirits. She’s a strong girl,” he shared with a local reporter. “She’s a better person than I am. I don’t think I could have made it that long.”
The Search Begins
Caldwell first became concerned about his daughter when her mother informed him that Brieonna wasn’t answering her phone. Attempts to reach her also went unanswered, leading them to contact her children—ages 16, 21, and 23—but they too had no luck in getting a response.
“We knew something was wrong,” Caldwell recalled, noting that it was unusual for Brieonna to ignore her children. “She would never do that.” As the situation intensified, law enforcement began an investigation while the family sought help on social media platforms.
Throughout the week, Caldwell traveled to various towns following up on tips he received from people who believed they might have seen her. Hope surfaced when he was notified by police that Brieonna had been located and was being airlifted to a hospital.
The Accident
The unfortunate incident began when Cassell fell asleep at the wheel while returning home from a friend’s house. Upon waking, she discovered that she had crashed into a six-meter deep ditch, rendering her invisible to drivers passing by.
For the first few days, Cassell relied on a water bottle she had in her vehicle, but once that supply was exhausted, she resorted to the creek water. “She was able to get the driver’s side door open and use her good arm to soak her clothing, then pull it back up to drink,” Caldwell revealed.
Rescue by a Good Samaritan
Cassell’s life was ultimately saved by a passerby, Johnny Martinez, who noticed her car while working nearby. He reported the sighting to his supervisor, who was also a volunteer fire chief. Together, they approached the vehicle and found Cassell inside.
Multiple volunteer fire departments responded to the emergency call, assisting in her rescue. “Newton County may be small, but we are mighty—thanks in big part to our volunteer firefighters,” commented Sheriff Shannon Cothran in a supportive post on social media, praising Martinez as a hero for his observant action.
Recovery Ahead
Brieonna Cassell currently remains in intensive care, with doctors focusing on preventing infection from spreading due to the delayed treatment of her severe injuries. As her family braces for a challenging recovery journey, her daughter has launched a GoFundMe campaign titled “Support Brieonna Cassell’s Medical Recovery” to assist with expected expenses related to her treatment, which will likely include several surgeries.
Despite the difficult circumstances, Caldwell noted that Cassell’s spirit remains undeterred. He shared a light-hearted moment from her recovery: “The first thing she did after getting out of the emergency room was eat…and she was eating like a pig,” he recounted with a chuckle, highlighting her desire for orange sherbet and a hearty meal once cleared by doctors.
Ultimately, Caldwell expressed immense gratitude for his daughter’s survival. “We’re so grateful,” he said. “She’s alive. She’s safe. She’s warm.”
Source
www.cbc.ca