A Miracle in Indiana
A casual day of fishing for Mario Garcia and his son-in-law turned into something much more miraculous when they stumbled upon a man trapped in a wrecked vehicle. While their wives were gone, the pair was looking for a way to pass the time by scouting fishing holes. Little did they know that they were about to save a life.
Garcia and Nivardo De La Torre discovered the man, whom they initially thought was dead, in a shallow creek beneath an Interstate 94 bridge in Portage, Indiana, at about 3:35 p.m one day. The man was rushed to a hospital by helicopter with life-threatening injuries, including a broken hand and other visible injuries. Sgt. Glen Fifield of the Indiana State Police shared that the driver wasn’t sure how long he had been trapped and was suffering from multiple injuries.
The driver’s identity is still being determined, but authorities believe he is a man from the South Bend area who may have been at the site for nearly a week unnoticed due to the area being out of view from the interstate. Investigators believe the man was traveling westbound on Interstate 94 when his vehicle went off the roadway for unknown reasons. The vehicle missed a guardrail, went airborne, rolled several times, and came to rest in the creek underneath the bridge.
The wreck was difficult for first responders to reach, as it required a hike along Indiana’s Salt Creek, which is a few feet deep, contains moving water, and is about 30 feet wide. Rescuers from the Portage and Burns Harbor fire departments faced difficulties freeing the man due to the hazardous wreckage and challenging location.
The man’s survival was likely due to warmer temperatures in Northwest Indiana, with high temperatures reaching 58 degrees in Porter County. “Quite frankly,” said Fifield, “it’s a miracle he’s alive.”
This heartwarming story showcases the power of coincidence and the willingness of strangers to help those in need. It is a reminder of the importance of being open to adventure, even on a “lazy day”.