Indiana woman found alive after six days missing
Missing Indiana woman found alive 6 days trapped in her car
An Indiana woman was found alive Tuesday, nearly a week after she was reported missing. Brieonna Cassell, 41, of Wheatfield, Indiana, had been missing for six days before a passerby found her.
NEWTON COUNTY, Ind. - An Indiana woman was found alive inside her car off the side of the road on Tuesday, nearly a week after she was reported missing.
What we know:
Brieonna Cassell, 41, of Wheatfield, Indiana, had been missing for six days before a passerby found her.
Johnny Martinez was operating equipment for Deyoung Drainage when he spotted a vehicle off County Road 600 South near County Road 300 East, about a mile southeast of the Newton County Landfill.
An Indiana woman was found alive Tuesday, nearly a week after she was reported missing. (Newton County Sheriff's Office)
The vehicle was hidden from view of passing traffic.
Martinez contacted his supervisor, Morocco Fire Chief Jeremy Vanderwall, and the two checked the vehicle.
They found Cassell inside, conscious and speaking, despite her injuries.
She had survived six days in the vehicle, waiting for help.
During a news conference on Tuesday, Cassell's family said although she was trapped, she survived by using her hoodie to retrieve water to drink.
They said she suffered compounded fractures and severe injuries to her legs.
Brieonna Cassell
Cassell was taken to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn for medical treatment.
A missing person flayer said Cassell left her mom's home to visit friends in the Wheatfield and Demotte area.
The Newton County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to Martinez and Vanderwall for their quick actions.
"First and foremost, we owe immense gratitude to Johnny Martinez, who spotted the car in the ditch. In my book, Mr. Martinez is a hero, and we can never thank him enough for his keen eye and quick action," Sheriff Cothran said in a Facebook post.
The Newton County Sheriff's Office released a photo of Martinez.
Johnny Martinez poses for a photo after he reported a car off the road. Inside the car was a woman who went missing six days earlier and was found alive.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not released details about how the vehicle ended up off the road or the extent of Cassell’s injuries.
The Response:
Several agencies assisted in the rescue, including Newton County 9-1-1 Communications, Newton County EMS, Lutheran Air, Brook Fire, Morocco Fire, Kentland Fire, and the Brook Police Department.
The Source: The information from this article was provided by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office.