PORTAGE — A Mishawaka man is recovery after a pair of fishermen found him inside a crashed car in Porter County on Tuesday.
According to Indiana State Police, Porter County Dispatch received a call around 3:45 p.m. of a crash on I-94 at the Salt Creek overpass.
The callers told ISP they were scouting for fishing holes when they spotted what appeared to be a crashed vehicle with a lifeless person inside. When they reached the car, the occupant began moving and speaking with them.
Fire crews were able to extricate the man and he was airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend for life-threatening injuries.
According to the driver and investigation surrounding the crash, it was determined the man had been inside the wrecked car since December 20 — six days earlier.
The driver, now identified as 27-year-old Matthew Reum, was driving a 2016 Dodge Ram westbound on I-94 when he left the road for unknown reasons. Reum's truck missed a guardrail and flipped over the bridge and into Salt Creek, pinning him inside the vehicle and unable to call for help.
Reum reportedly survived the six days by a strong will to survive and drinking rain water.
State police say the crash is a reminder to always let someone know if you are traveling and the route you are taking.
On Thursday, the Indiana State Police released the following statement on behalf of Reum.
Matt Reum wants to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and all the well wishes, including the good Samaritans who found him, the first responders and his caregivers at Memorial Hospital. He remains in critical condition at this time. He has asked not only for time to process everything that he has endured since last Wednesday, but also for time to rest and heal. Matt knows he has a story to tell, and when he is ready, he plans to share details of that experience. Until then, Matt has asked us to share this message, while also requesting privacy during this time for himself, his family and friends. He adds, “No matter how tough things get, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, sometimes in the least expected way.”
