Indiana fishermen discover a driver stuck in a vehicle for six days

A driver, Matthew Reum, 27, from Mishawaka, Indiana, was discovered trapped in his cab for six days after a crash by two fishermen scouting for fishing holes near Portage. Mario Garcia and his son-in-law, Nivardo De La Torre, stumbled upon the wreckage while waiting for their wives. The truck had crashed off Interstate 94 on December 20, and Reum was found pinned under the bridge.

Garcia, having noticed the wrecked truck, was moving an airbag when Reum "woke up." According to Garcia, Reum explained that he had been trapped and tried yelling for help, but no one heard him. The only sound he could hear was the water. Reum, a union welder, survived the ordeal by drinking rainwater, having had no access to food.

After the rescue, Reum was taken to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, where his left leg was amputated from around his mid-shin down. The amputation was necessary for his recovery, as reported by his union, Boilermakers Local 374. Currently in intensive care, Reum's condition is being closely monitored.

Indiana State Police Sgt Glen Fifield highlighted the critical role played by the two fishermen, stating, "Had it not been for the two individuals that were walking the creek this afternoon, this incident more than likely would have had a different outcome." The fishermen expressed relief at finding Reum when they did, emphasizing that the cold weather made it unlikely for him to have survived another night.

Reum's rescue underscores the significance of chance encounters in emergencies, as the fishermen's timely discovery and assistance proved crucial in potentially saving his life.