Driver stuck for a week in the wreckage of his truck survives

A driver narrowly escaped a fatal outcome after his truck crashed beneath a bridge in the US state of Indiana, leaving him trapped for nearly a week without access to his phone.

The incredible rescue unfolded when two men fishing in Salt Creek near the town of Portage discovered the severely injured man. He recounted being stuck inside his truck under the bridge since December 20, enduring six full days of confinement. The fishermen immediately called for assistance, initiating a challenging rescue operation from the deep cliff.

The man, in his late twenties, was airlifted to a South Bend, Indiana hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries, according to police. The accident occurred when the truck veered on the I-94 highway, 64 km southeast of Chicago, crashed into the valley, rolled, and ultimately became wedged under the bridge, as described by Indiana State Police Sergeant Glenn Fifield.

Surviving on rainwater, the man's inability to reach his phone prevented him from seeking help. Sergeant Fifield, during a press conference with the two fishermen, marveled at the man's survival and credited the mild Christmas holiday weather for contributing to it. He emphasized that with the subsequent dramatic drop in temperature, the man might not have survived the night.

The discovery of the man was indeed a stroke of luck, as the wrecked truck was not visible from the busy road above the cliff, and no accident had been reported. Several other fishermen had crossed the water earlier without noticing the wreckage. Mario Garcia, who spotted the truck while searching for a fishing spot with his son-in-law, described finding the man inside as a shock and expressed relief that the driver was alive.

The driver, identified as 27-year-old Matthew Romm, shared that he had been stuck since the previous Wednesday, attempting to call for help but going unheard. The rescue, facilitated by the fortuitous presence of the two fishermen, was a testament to both timing and chance in a situation that could have ended far differently.