An 8-year-old Indiana Girl Scout is being praised by her family after helping other children escape a wrecked vehicle following a devastating crash that killed three people.
Amelia Freeland was riding home from a Girl Scout trip to Holiday World in Pike County on the evening of August 29 when the vehicle she was traveling in was struck head-on on State Road 64.
The collision killed 41-year-old Amanda Wertman, who was driving the vehicle, as well as her 8-year-old daughter, Michaela Wertman. The driver of the other vehicle also died.
Three children survived the crash, including Amelia, another 8-year-old girl named Oaklie Disney, and Amanda Wertman’s 5-year-old son, Theodore Wertman.
But in the moments immediately after the collision, Amelia’s family says the young girl was able to get herself out of the wreckage and help another child escape.
According to Amelia’s mother, Tasha Cox, her daughter later described the terrifying scene in simple terms: the vehicle had flipped over, while the other vehicle was on fire.
Amelia unbuckled herself, climbed out and then began helping the other children release their seat belts.
Cox said Amelia was able to get herself and 5-year-old Theodore out of the vehicle. The children then waited near the roadway until emergency responders arrived.
For a child who had just experienced a violent crash, the actions were remarkable.
But the circumstances surrounding the collision were themselves extraordinary.
According to Indiana State Police, a deputy was responding to an active domestic-violence-related call when a red Toyota Camry believed to be connected to that incident left a gas station in the area.
The deputy reportedly observed the Camry driving in a dangerous manner before continuing along State Road 64.
Investigators said the vehicle crossed the centerline and collided head-on with the vehicle carrying Amanda Wertman and the four children.
The crash happened at approximately 7:42 p.m.
The impact proved fatal for Amanda and the driver of the other vehicle, who both died at the scene.
Michaela, Amanda’s 8-year-old daughter, survived the initial collision but later died from her injuries at a hospital, according to Indiana State Police.
That left three children fighting to recover from injuries while also facing the loss of people they knew and loved.
Amelia suffered a compressed fracture in her neck along with a significant bruise around her hip and pelvic area.
Her mother said doctors expected the neck injury to take roughly four to six weeks to heal. Additional X-rays and physical therapy may be needed as her recovery continues.
Amelia has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home.
Theodore has also returned home after being hospitalized. He is now recovering physically while dealing with the loss of his mother and sister.
Oaklie Disney, another 8-year-old survivor, suffered more serious injuries.
Her family has reported that she sustained two brain bleeds and continues to recover in the hospital. Updates indicate that her progress has been slow, with ongoing symptoms including dizziness and difficulty eating.
The physical injuries are only part of what the surviving children and their families are facing.
The crash took away a mother and daughter from one family and left several children injured in a matter of seconds.
For Amelia, the memory of what happened is now tied not only to the loss around her, but also to the actions she took immediately afterward.
Her mother said Amelia did not simply remain inside the overturned vehicle after escaping. She turned her attention to the other children.
That detail has led family members and local media to describe the 8-year-old as a hero.
The word is understandable, but the underlying facts are what make the story remarkable: Amelia was herself a child caught in a life-threatening crash, yet she managed to free herself and help Theodore get out before emergency crews arrived.
She was not an emergency responder.
She was not an adult trained for a disaster.
She was an 8-year-old returning home from a Girl Scout outing.
And after the crash, she acted.
Now the surviving families are trying to recover while dealing with a tragedy that changed their lives overnight.
Separate GoFundMe campaigns have been created to support Amelia, Oaklie and the Wertman family. The fundraisers are helping with medical expenses, recovery needs and the financial burden left behind by the crash.
Amelia’s family has also expressed gratitude for the support they have received from people in the community.
Her mother has said she is continuing to pray for everyone affected by the crash, including the families who lost loved ones.
The investigation into the collision remains an important part of the story as authorities work to establish the full sequence of events leading up to the crash.
Indiana State Police said the other vehicle was involved in a police-related incident before the collision, and investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the pursuit and the fatal impact.
For the surviving children, however, the investigation is only one part of what comes next.
They now face a long recovery — both physically and emotionally.
Amelia has already begun that process at home. Her neck injury is expected to require weeks of healing, while the experience itself may stay with her for much longer.
Oaklie continues to receive hospital care as her family waits for further progress.
And Theodore is recovering from his physical injuries while mourning the loss of his mother and sister.
Three people died in the crash.
Three children survived.
And in the middle of the chaos, an 8-year-old girl managed to help another child escape an overturned vehicle before first responders arrived.
The crash left a community grieving, but Amelia’s actions have given the tragedy another dimension — a story of a child who, despite being frightened and injured herself, turned toward her friends when they needed help.
For her family, calling Amelia a hero may be an easy description.
The more important fact is what she actually did.
She got out.
She went back for the others.
And she helped a 5-year-old child make it out alive.