Brieonna Cassell speaks out for 1st time after surviving for 6 days after Newton County car crash in Northwest Indiana
Share and Follow

NEWTON COUNTY, Ind. (WLS) — The Northwest Indiana woman who was trapped in her crashed car for six days is speaking out for the first time.

Brieonna Cassell was found alive on Tuesday by a good Samaritan in rural Newton County, Indiana.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Cassell’s family said she spent the day Thursday with friends recovering as she prepares for another surgery. Meanwhile, ABC7 is learning more from her about the lengths it took to survive.

From her hospital bed, Cassell told Inside Edition about her incredible story of survival and how she kept going. She sharing what went through her mind after being found alive in her car nearly a week after crashing into a ditch.

“I really don’t know,” Cassell said. “I just kept going. Giving up wasn’t an option.”

Her family shared new photos Thursday of friends visiting her in the hospital.

The Indiana mother of three, recovering from a successful surgery Wednesday to fix her arm, is now on antibiotics for her legs. Cassell’s mother said doctors are working to get the infection on her legs under control.

In her interview with Inside Edition, she said he veered off the road after falling asleep at the wheel and crashed her car into a ditch in Newton County. Her phone had no battery left and she couldn’t move, so she could not call for help.

Cassell told Inside Edition she survived being trapped in her car for six days by taking her hooded sweatshirt, lowering it into the creek just so she could suck the water from the fabric.

“I just did what I thought I had to do,” Cassell said. “I kept myself comfortable. I kept myself calm. I kept myself warm, and I kept drinking water.”

After nearly six days, Cassell told her family that she had nearly given up hope before a good Samaritan found her car.

She suffered seven broken ribs, a broken arm and both of her legs left with compound fractures in the crash.

Cassell’s parents said she has another surgery scheduled for Friday.

Her daughter said doctors are still not sure if they can save her legs.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Men, boys meet to address mental health challenges at Josephine's Southern Cooking breakfast event on Chicago's South Side

Empowering Minds: Men and Boys Unite to Tackle Mental Health at Chicago’s South Side Breakfast Event

CHICAGO (WLS) — In a groundbreaking effort to address mental health, men…
Sick new details about Jeffrey Epstein's crimes revealed after DOJ releases files from unsealed grand jury materials

Newly Unsealed Grand Jury Documents Unveil Disturbing Details of Jeffrey Epstein’s Crimes

Recent documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice shed light on…
Former Australian minister says ‘radical Islam pulled the trigger’ in nation's worst terror attack

Former Australian Minister Attributes Nation’s Worst Terror Attack to ‘Radical Islam’ Influence

EXCLUSIVE: A former Australian government official has voiced concerns over the factors…
Who is Nick Reiner? Rob Reiner's son arrested after his death

Rob Reiner’s Son Nick Reiner in the Spotlight Following Recent Arrest

A 32-year-old man has been apprehended following the tragic discovery of his…
LA deputies caught on camera racing into foggy ocean to rescue disoriented paragliders

Heroic LA Deputies Brave Foggy Waters to Rescue Stranded Paragliders in Daring Ocean Rescue

In a dramatic rescue caught on camera, two Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies…
I'm a mechanic with half-million followers... avoid these 8 car brands

Mechanic with 500K Followers Reveals the 8 Car Brands You Should Steer Clear Of

Daimee Rosales rocketed to internet stardom through a viral video showcasing her…
Jeffrey Epstein file 468: At least 16 files disappear from DOJ Epstein files library, including photo showing Donald Trump

New Revelation: DOJ Loses Key Epstein Documents, Including Trump Photo

NEW YORK — A series of documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein mysteriously…
Dozens of missing children, as young as 1, saved from sex traffickers

Authorities Rescue Several Dozens of Missing Children, Including Toddlers, from Human Trafficking Operations

In a sweeping operation against sex trafficking, authorities in North Florida have…