Brieonna Cassell, a 41-year-old mother from Wheatfield, Indiana, found herself in a terrifying situation after a single moment of fatigue. On a Thursday night, while driving to visit a friend, she fell asleep at the wheel. Her car veered off the road and crashed into a deep ditch under a bridge in a remote area of Newton County. With no one around and no way to call for help—her phone was dead and out of reach—Brieonna was trapped in her vehicle, unable to escape.
For nearly six days, Brieonna fought to survive. Despite suffering serious injuries to her legs and wrist, her determination and will to live kept her going. Stranded in the car with no food and little water, she found a way to drink from a small creek nearby by dipping her hoodie into the water. This simple, yet resourceful act of survival kept her alive. Her situation grew more dire as the days passed, and by the time she spoke to rescuers, she had nearly given up hope, saying, “I didn’t think anybody was gonna find me. I thought I was gonna die in this ditch.”
The story took a miraculous turn when Johnny Martinez, a passerby operating drainage equipment, noticed something unusual. While working in the area, Martinez spotted Brieonna's car off the road, hidden from view. His quick decision to report the vehicle to his supervisor, Jeremy Vanderwall, a local fire chief, led to the discovery of Brieonna in the ditch. When they found her, she was conscious, alert, and able to speak, but visibly weakened from her ordeal.
Her father, Delmar Caldwell, reflected on the desperation Brieonna must have felt: “The only way she was able to survive was using her hoodie and dipping it into the water in a ditch and sucking the water.” That small creek, along with her strength, were the key factors that kept her alive.
Her rescue was the result of swift teamwork. As Sheriff Shannon Cothran stated, “In my book, Mr. Martinez is a hero, and we can never thank him enough for his keen eye and quick action.” Vanderwall also remarked, “If he hadn’t seen her and hadn’t pushed for me to go back and check on her, she could have laid there for who knows how much longer, and the outcome might not be the same.” Once the two men found her, they wasted no time in calling for help. Brieonna was flown to a hospital in Chicago, where she remains in stable condition.
As for Brieonna’s recovery, we have some positive updates to share. Her mother, Kim, authorized us to share that Brieonna is in stable condition and scheduled for surgery due to concerns about the healing of her legs. “Her outlook for recovery is good, but it will be a long road,” Kim shared. She also expressed immense gratitude for all the responders and those who have kept Brieonna in their thoughts and prayers during this challenging time.
Though her recovery will be a long road, her determination and resourcefulness have inspired everyone who has heard her story.
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