In what was described as a “miracle,” a man was found alive after being trapped in his mangled truck for six days after a crash.
At a news conference, Indiana State Police Sgt. Glen Fifield said two local fishermen had been walking along Salt Creek when they happened across a mangled Dodge Ram truck, partially submerged in the water below the I-94 bridge.
He said the victim had suffered some “severe, potentially life-threatening injuries” and was flown to South Bend Memorial Hospital by Lutheran Air, where he was being treated for his injuries.
“Out of curiosity, they decided to look into the vehicle, and they saw it was occupied by one male occupant,” he relayed. “One of the good Samaritans touched this occupant, thinking that this person was deceased and they were not. The occupant turned their head and began speaking to our good Samaritan.”
The occupant—whose identity was unknown at the time of the press conference—was 27-year-old Matthew R. Reum of Mishawaka.
He told the “good Samaritans” that he had been trapped in his crushed vehicle, pinned tightly to his seat, since Dec. 20.
Mr. Garcia told reporters that when he got to the vehicle, he saw a body inside. When he reached inside and moved the airbag, the man in the vehicle turned around.”
“That almost killed me there because it was kind of shocking,” Mr. Garcia recalled. “He was alive, and he was very happy to see us. I mean ... I had never seen a relief like that.”
“This is one mile east of the Portage exit,” the release stated.
“Preliminary investigation shows that the driver was operating a 2016 Dodge Ram truck, and he had been traveling westbound on I-94 when it left the roadway for unknown reasons. The vehicle drove into the north ditch, missing a protective guardrail. The truck then overturned into the creek, coming to a rest under the I-94 bridge. The driver was pinned inside of the vehicle and was unable to call for help.”
During the six days, police received no reports of missing persons or of any accidents.
From the bridge, Mr. Fifield said the vehicle wasn’t visible.
“I looked over that bridge, and you can’t see it,” he told reporters. “I walked down on the east side of the terrain, and I am looking, and I still couldn’t see it.”
“Quite frankly,” Mr. Fitfield said, “it’s a miracle that he’s alive in this weather.”
“We’ve been lucky enough here this Christmas season that our temperatures have been above normal,” he said.
The previous year, temperatures were below freezing.
When the good Samaritans found him, Mr. Garcia said Mr. Reum told him he “had almost lost all hope because nobody was there.”
He also said Mr. Reum told him he had “been there for a while” and that he had “tried yelling and screaming for someone to come help but that “nobody could hear him.”
“It was just quiet, just the sound of the water.”
Considering where the truck was located, he didn’t believe anybody else would have seen the vehicle, adding that it was “very fortunate” that they were able to see the mangled truck shining “through the cracks in the woods.”
Mr. Fifield also told reporters that rescuing Mr. Reum “was very challenging for the fire department.”
In the Dec. 26 press release, State Police also said Mr. Reum’s crash “is a reminder of the importance of always letting someone know if you are traveling, the route you are taking, and the need to always have emergency items in your vehicle.”
“The will to survive this crash was nothing short of extraordinary,” the release said. “As it was also determined that Mr. Reum was able to drink rainwater for hydration in order to survive for such a long period of time while being exposed to the elements.”
Mr. Garcia said, “Curiosity took us over there,” noting “it could have been a different outcome” if they “either didn’t go out or didn’t see him.”“Is it a miracle?” Mr. Garcia asked rhetorically. “I don’t know. But I’m just glad that we were able to find him.”
