MONSON, Mass. (AP) – A 59-year-old insulin-dependent diabetic from Palmer survived for four days by eating Wheat Thins and drinking dew after his car went off a Monson road earlier this week.
Raymond A. Vachon was reported missing by his wife on Tuesday and rescued Saturday morning after a resident out walking his dog heard his cries for help and called 911.
Vachon told police he lost control of his car at about 5 a.m. on Tuesday and crashed about 30 feet into the brush.
He suffered a leg fracture and was weak and dehydrated when he was rescued, police said. He was taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and held overnight.
“I’m sorry to say, I was thinking of writing notes … I was basically giving up,” Vachon said in an interview with The Republican of Springfield.
He tried to make it out on his own. “(Saturday) morning, I had to almost tumble out of the car. I made it through two rolls. The third roll was just impossible. I was in so much pain. There was nothing left to do but scream and yell.”
Linda Vachon reported her husband of 35 years missing after he did not return home from an overnight shift working security at a Springfield grocery store.
“The last four days I was praying to God and asking for a miracle,” she said. “We honestly thought he had met with foul play.”
Roger Pikul came upon Vachon at about 8:45 a.m. on Saturday.
“Oh, my God, I love that guy,” Raymond Vachon said of Pikul. “He’s my new best friend.”
Linda Vachon estimated her husband was unconscious until sometime Thursday. She said he awoke and began taking insulin, nibbling on the Wheat Thins he kept in the car and drinking dew off leaves and the windshield.
Palmer police Officer John Melnick brought the good news to the Vachon household.
“We’ve been looking everywhere around town and I’m just glad it had a happy ending. It was nice to bring someone some good news,” Melnick said.
Raymond Vachon does not own a cell phone. He said he now plans on buying one.
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