Reum released from hospital
Jan. 17—MISHAWAKA — The Mishawaka man who survived six days in late December trapped in his wrecked truck beneath an I-94 bridge in Portage was released from South Bend Memorial Hospital today.
Matt Reum, 27, was released from the hospital after three weeks of care.
"He will now enter the next phase of his healing journey at home surrounded by family and friends. We look forward to continuing to care for Matt in outpatient physical rehabilitation at Memorial," a press release from the hospital stated.
Upon his release, Reum shared a message with supporters following his story:
"After four weeks since my wreck, and three weeks of being in the hospital, and hours and hours of physical therapy and occupational therapy, I am finally being discharged," he wrote. "To the members of the community who have supported me mentally and emotionally and have been in my corner, thank you. The support you have given me has been one of the biggest factors in my healing. To the countless nurses and assistants who have helped feed me, bathe me and have given me medication throughout the day and night, thank you. To the skilled doctors and everyone who played a hand in my surgeries going off without a hitch, thank you. Finally, to my social worker and the amazing physical and occupational therapists here at Memorial Hospital, I can never thank you enough for helping me realize I am not any less of a man just because I lost my leg. Now it is time for me to take my next steps outside of the hospital where I will be tested, tried, and will grow even more. I may be a little slower getting around than I was four weeks ago, but I'm still going to be moving forward toward a life I am proud of, having been given a second chance."
Reum was found by two fishermen, Mario Garcia and Nivardo Delatorre, trapped in his 2016 Dodge Ram under Interstate 94 near Portage below an underpass. His crash occurred on Dec. 20, and Reum was found six days later.
The two fishermen called 911 for help. The Portage Fire Department and Burns Harbor Fire Department responded and he was airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend for treatment of life-threatening injuries.
The crash investigation by Indiana State Police showed that Reum's truck left the roadway for undetermined reasons and missed the protective guardrail, overturning into the creek. Reum was pinned inside the vehicle, unable to call for help, and not visible from the roadway.
The hospital also shared a video of Reum's reunion with his rescuers including emergency personnel from Portage Fire Department on Jan. 9. It can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_IQGDA_5AU.
