U.S. News

Actions

Man rescued after being pinned inside car under bridge for 6 days

The man's truck went over a bridge and into a creek, pinning him inside the vehicle and unable to call for help.
Rescuers pull an Indiana man from a car trapped under an overpass.
Posted at 12:07 PM, Dec 27, 2023

A Mishawaka, Indiana, man is recovering after a pair of fishermen found him inside a crashed car on Tuesday.

According to Indiana State Police, Porter County Dispatch received a call around 3:45 p.m. of a crash on Interstate 94. The callers told ISP they were scouting for fishing holes when they spotted what appeared to be a crashed vehicle with a lifeless person inside. When they reached the car, the occupant began moving and speaking with them.

Fire crews were able to extricate the man and he was airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend for life-threatening injuries.

According to the driver and investigation surrounding the crash, the man had been inside the wrecked car since Dec. 20 — six days earlier.

The driver, now identified as 27-year-old Matthew Reum, was driving a 2016 Dodge Ram westbound on I-94 when he left the road for unknown reasons. Reum's truck missed a guardrail and flipped over the bridge and into Salt Creek, pinning him inside the vehicle and unable to call for help.

Stranded travelers in Colorado use iPhone SOS feature to call for help
Volunteers with Colorado 4x4 Rescue and Recovery help travelers stranded in Miners Gulch

Stranded travelers in Colorado use iPhone SOS feature to call for help

Travelers from Massachusetts were able to reach Colorado emergency responders for help despite having no cell service.

LEARN MORE

Reum reportedly survived the six days by having a strong will to survive and drinking rain water.

State police say the crash is a reminder to always let someone know if you are traveling and the route you are taking.

This article was originally published by James Howell Jr. for Scripps News Indianapolis.