8-year-old Girl Scout called a hero for helping friends escape deadly head-on crash

PIKE COUNTY, Ind. (WFIE/Gray News) - A young girl is being called a hero after helping her friends escape a crash that killed three people last weekend.

Amelia Freeland, 8, was said to be riding home from a Girl Scout trip to Holiday World on Aug. 29 when the vehicle she was in was hit head-on by another car whose driver was trying to get away from police.

The crash occurred on State Road 64 near Stendal. Amelia’s family says she was traveling with Amanda Wertman, Wertman’s daughter, Wertman’s son and two other children at the time of the crash.

Wertman and her daughter, 8-year-old Michaela, died in the collision, along with the other driver. Three children, including Amelia, survived.

“My kiddo told us that the car flipped over and that the other car was on fire,” Amelia’s mother, Tasha Cox, said. “She unbuckled her seat belt and got out. Then she went and helped the other kids unbuckle their seat belts.”

Cox said 8-year-old Amelia got herself and 5-year-old Theodore Wertman out of the vehicle. She says the two were sitting by the car when first responders arrived.

Amelia and Theodore were released from the hospital this week and are continuing to recover at home.

“She has compressed fractures in her neck. They told me it’ll be about four to six weeks before they should be healing,” Cox said.

According to the mother, doctors say more X-rays and physical therapy could allow her daughter’s neck brace to come off.

“She’s got a pretty nasty bruise on her hip and her pelvic area on the right side,” Cox said. “Amelia’s saying it hurts when she walks a certain way. So she’s walking where it feels comfortable.”

Cox says she’s grateful for the outpouring of community support, and she’s praying for the other families involved.

Oaklie Disney, 8, remains in the hospital after suffering severe injuries, including brain bleeds, from the crash.

GoFundMe accounts have been set up for the crash victims and their families. Amelia’s account is online, along with Oaklie’s fundraiser.