Indiana woman trapped for 6 days after car crash shares survival story: 'Giving up wasn't an option'

NEWTON COUNTY, Ind. (WLS) -- The Northwest Indiana woman who was trapped in her crashed car for six days is speaking out for the first time.

Brieonna Cassell was found alive on Tuesday by a good Samaritan in rural Newton County, Indiana.

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Cassell's family said she spent the day Thursday with friends recovering as she prepares for another surgery. Meanwhile, ABC7 is learning more from her about the lengths it took to survive.

From her hospital bed, Cassell told Inside Edition about her incredible story of survival and how she kept going. She is sharing what went through her mind after being found alive in her car nearly a week after crashing into a ditch.

"I really don't know," Cassell said. "I just kept going. Giving up wasn't an option."

Her family shared new photos Thursday of friends visiting her in the hospital.

The Indiana mother of three, recovering from a successful surgery Wednesday to fix her arm, is now on antibiotics for her legs. Cassell's mother said doctors are working to get the infection on her legs under control.

In her interview with Inside Edition, she said she veered off the road after falling asleep at the wheel and crashed her car into a ditch in Newton County. Her phone had no battery left and she couldn't move, so she could not call for help.

Cassell told Inside Edition she survived being trapped in her car for six days by taking her hooded sweatshirt, lowering it into the creek just so she could suck the water from the fabric.

"I just did what I thought I had to do," Cassell said. "I kept myself comfortable. I kept myself calm. I kept myself warm, and I kept drinking water."

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After nearly six days, Cassell told her family that she had nearly given up hope before a good Samaritan found her car.

She suffered seven broken ribs, a broken arm and both of her legs left with compound fractures in the crash.

Cassell's parents said she has another surgery scheduled for Friday.

Her daughter said doctors are still not sure if they can save her legs.