Mom of 3 survives in car for nearly 1 week after crashing into creek in Northwest Indiana: sheriff

NEWTON COUNTY, Ind. (WLS) -- A missing woman survived for nearly one week in her car after crashing into a creek in Northwest Indiana, officials said.

The family of Brieonna Cassell said she went missing on Wednesday after leaving her mother's home to visit a friend in the area of Wheatfield and DeMotte, Indiana.

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Cassell fell asleep behind the wheel before crashing in Brook.

"She had fell asleep and veered off the road and went into a very big, deep ditch. It couldn't be seen from the road," said Delmar Caldwell, Cassell's father.

Resilience and a simple piece of clothing helped Cassell to survive nearly six days while injured and trapped in her crashed car. Her phone lost power, and the 41-year-old was unable to move.

"She was using her hoodie and wringing it to get a drink of water, trying to survive," Caldwell said. "She was in excruciating pain. She was screaming out for help. She could hear cars going by, but they couldn't see her from the road."

Cassell's family, along with several Northwest Indiana rescue teams, had been searching for six days.

The Newton County Sheriff's Office said on Tuesday, a passerby was operating equipment for Deyoung Drainage when he found a vehicle off the roadway, out of view from passing traffic, on CR 600S near CR 300E. That's about 1 mile southeast of the Newton County Landfill.

He then contacted his supervisor, Jeremy Vanderwall, who happens to be Morocco's volunteer fire chief.

They checked the vehicle and found Cassell inside. She was conscious and speaking.

"'That's you?' I said, 'Your family's been looking for you.' I said, 'There are posts everywhere on social media.' I said, 'I can't believe you've been in this long,'" Vanderwall said.

The mother of three was rescued and flown to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with what her family says are severe injuries to her legs, ribs, and wrist.

"She did what she could to survive," said Kim Brown, Cassell's mother. "I am so glad she was found alive, and I just can't wait to hug her and kiss her."

Cassell's family said she was placed in the ICU, and she will undergo surgery on Wednesday. She could lose her lower legs.

"Don't lose hope. Don't give up. We had thought the worst. It had gone through our minds so many times, but thank God," Caldwell said.