Bodycam shows Indiana man rescued by Portage fire after 6 days of being trapped in his crashed truck
By: A man who was trapped in his crashed truck for several days was rescued after fishermen found the wreck under an Indiana overpass Tuesday afternoon.
Matthew R. Reum, 27, is recovering, a spokesman for an Indiana labor union, Boilermakers Local 374, and Indiana State Police said Wednesday.
Reum is described as a "positive, kind, and energetic person," by his union.
The union spokesman said they spoke with him Tuesday night.
"We are thankful Matt is alive and grateful for the men who found him. Matt's strong will and toughness speak volumes through this ordeal," the spokesman said.
Reum had to have part of his leg amputated due to his injuries, and remains in the intensive care unit, the spokesman said.
"Matthew is a great guy, always smiling, coming to work in a joyful mood. He's a hard worker, too, great welder. There's not enough good things to say about the guy," his friend, Mike Ortiz, said.
Irtiz has worked with Reum as a fellow union boilermaker, going from job to job. He said Reum is a talented welder.
"Our tradesmen, our union brothers, even from other crafts. I hope everybody gets together and help him. Helps him out, he lost his leg, and I just hope that they kinda look at how our careers go, and that he may need some support at this moment," he said.
South Bend Memorial Hospital, where Reum is being treated, released a statement saying in part, "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."
"Matt knows he has a story to tell, and when he is ready, he plans to share details of that experience," the statement continued. "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.'"
Indiana State Police said two fishermen - Nivardo Delatorre of Portage and his father-in-law Mario Garcia of Hobart, were scouting for fishing spots when they saw a crashed car under Interstate 94, hidden from plain view, under an overpass.
They looked into the car and found a man inside. Garcia said they thought he was dead and reached out to touch him to confirm, when the man woke up, turned his head toward them and began to speak.
"They touched the body, and the person turned their head and started talking to them. So, that got a little rise out of them," Sgt. Glen Fifield with Indiana police said.
"He had a jacket almost like mine, and all I have seen was this part, the shoulder. The moment I touched the shoulder, he swung around. He woke up," Garcia said.
The two good Samaritans called 911. They said the driver told them he'd been stranded and paralyzed in place since last Wednesday.