Who Is Amelia Freeland? 8-Year-Old Girl Scout Called a Hero After Helping Friends Escape Deadly Crash

An 8-year-old Indiana Girl Scout is being praised as a hero after helping other children escape a deadly head-on crash on August 29, 2026.

Amelia Freeland was riding home from a Girl Scout trip to Holiday World in Pike County when the vehicle she was traveling in was struck by another vehicle whose driver was fleeing from police. The crash killed 41-year-old Amanda Wertman, her 8-year-old daughter Michaela, and the other driver.

Amelia survived the crash and, despite being injured herself, managed to unbuckle her seat belt and help other children get out of the wrecked vehicle before first responders arrived. Her actions have drawn attention because she was only 8 years old and had just gone through a terrifying crash that left three people dead.

Who Is Amelia Freeland?

Amelia is a second grader from Pike County, Indiana, who was returning home with other children after a Girl Scout outing at Holiday World.

The group was traveling along State Road 64 near Stendal on August 29 when the vehicle driven by Amanda Wertman was hit head-on. According to Indiana State Police, the other driver was involved in a police chase that began after a Pike County Sheriff’s Department deputy responded to a domestic violence call at a gas station.

Wertman and her daughter Michaela died in the collision. The other driver was also killed.

Three children survived the crash, including Amelia, Wertman’s 5-year-old son Theodore and 8-year-old Oaklie Disney.

How Amelia Helped the Other Children

Amelia’s mother, Tasha Cox, said her daughter quickly realized what was happening after the crash.

Cox told WFIE that Amelia remembered the vehicle flipping over and seeing the other vehicle on fire. Amelia then freed herself from her seat belt and got out of the vehicle.

“She unbuckled her seat belt and got out. Then she went and helped the other kids unbuckle their seat belts,” Cox said.

Cox said Amelia helped 5-year-old Theodore get out of the vehicle. The two children were outside the wreck when first responders arrived.

The details are particularly striking because Amelia was not unharmed. She had been inside the vehicle during the violent collision and was later treated for several injuries.

Amelia Is Now Recovering at Home

Amelia and Theodore were discharged from the hospital during the week of September 5 and are continuing their recovery at home.

Cox said Amelia suffered compressed fractures in her neck. Doctors expect the injuries to take around four to six weeks to heal, and she is wearing a neck brace while she recovers.

“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.

Amelia also has a significant bruise around her right hip and pelvic area, which has made walking painful. Cox said her daughter is adjusting how she walks to avoid movements that cause discomfort.

Doctors may conduct additional X-rays and recommend physical therapy after Amelia’s neck brace is removed.

What Happened to the Other Children?

Oaklie Disney, 8, remains hospitalized with serious injuries from the crash, including brain bleeds. Her mother, Elizabeth Disney, said Oaklie has continued to experience dizziness and vomiting and has had difficulty eating.

Theodore, meanwhile, was among the children who survived and has since been released from the hospital.

The crash has left the families and the local community mourning Amanda and Michaela Wertman while supporting the children who survived.

For Amelia’s family, her actions have become one of the most remarkable parts of an otherwise devastating story. Cox said she is grateful for the support from the community and continues to pray for the other families affected by the crash.

Amelia’s story is not about escaping the tragedy untouched. She was injured, frightened, and caught in a wreck that claimed three lives. But in the moments immediately afterward, her first response was to help another child get free.

That decision, made by an 8-year-old in the middle of a deadly crash, is why people in her community are now calling Amelia Freeland a hero.