Ameleah Kegly, 5-Year-Old, Drives Car To Look For Mom (VIDEO)

First Posted: 10/26/11 04:22 PM ET Updated: 10/27/11 03:23 PM ET

share this story

Five-year-old Ameleah Kegly hopped off the bus Monday afternoon to find her mother wasn't waiting for her, ABC News reported.

She walked herself home, but after three hours, her mother still hadn't come home. Tired of waiting around, Ameleah decided to go out searching, and grabbed the keys to the family's black SUV.

She managed to turn the headlights on and put the key in the ignition, but because she hadn't turned it on all the way, the vehicle rolled backwards down the driveway and into the neighbor's yard.

Realizing she needed help, Ameleah called the police, but shied away from revealing all the details at first.

"My mom's car backed out on accident and I need the police. ... I don't know where she is," Ameleah told the dispatcher, according to the Mansfield News Journal.

Fearing that she would get in trouble, she refrained from admitting having attempted to drive the car. "I'm watching TV in my room. ... I don't know who pulled it out."

The report went on to say that the dispatcher eventually figured out what had really happened, and said encouraging things to keep the scared girl on the phone until a police office could get there.

Police quickly found out Ameleah's mother had fallen ill and been rushed to the hospital earlier in the day, and her father never got the message that he was supposed to pick her up from the bus stop, WHDH reported.

WATCH:

Comments
21
Pending Comments
0
View FAQ

Comments are closed for this entry

View All

Favorites

Recency |

Popularity

jorgebrito2

24 Fans

11:19 PM on 10/26/2011

That girl was home alone. She is very mature she can take care of herself very well and that is why her mom trusts her. She deserves a gold medal, a good reward for this. Good job girl!

Permalink | Share it

dmgg711

334 Fans

09:59 PM on 10/26/2011

For the past few years all I read or hear on a daily basis senseless killing of family members and children. I get to wondering as to how much anger or desperation can lead a person to complete such a henious assault on another human being or beings by taking a life. I can't help but cry and pray for those poor souls that were tragically taken from this earth.

I feel it is the economy that is producing hopelessness then anger and taking it out on whoever is depending on that persons support. Another tragedy are those who have been in combat and are in need of psychology help but are not receiving it or won’t admit they need help. There are so many possibilities for their sad state of mind to lead them to murder innocent people.

May the mother and child R.I.P. , condolences to family members and friends and help for the murderer.

Permalink | Share it

HUFFPOST SUPER USER

Mary Cavendish

10 Fans

09:35 PM on 10/26/2011

I was just glad to read that it was an honest mistake; not horrible parents not caring what their kids are up too. Also, when my step daughter was in kindergarten and first grade, she had a badge and whoever met her off the bus had to have the maching one. Good thing this little girl didn't get kidnapped on her way home.

Permalink | Share it

HUFFPOST SUPER USER

Brian Workman

228 Fans

08:51 PM on 10/26/2011

A tragidy averted by a great dispatcher!?!?

Permalink | Share it

HUFFPOST SUPER USER

Joaniejaye

Fashion Model, Author, Poet.

45 Fans

08:19 PM on 10/26/2011

This little girl is so smart, she needs to get a part time job working as a newscaster. Who knows maybe that is where she is heading. She make a mistake of course, but it was because she was over caring. I am sure she will not try to drive again. So young and yet so caring already. It's like wow. We never would know how smart a child can be, that is why we have a right to love and secure them.

Permalink | Share it

kel347

10 Fans

08:18 PM on 10/26/2011

Three hours alone? Outside? At five years old? So sorry this happened to her. Can't believe she's only five.

A very smart girl and such an act of desperation. Reminds me of the 7 year old boy who drove the car to get to his father's house. I'll never forget that story.

I wish the father or somebody else close could've gotten the message.

And wow, I won't even drive an SUV.

Permalink | Share it

HUFFPOST SUPER USER

MyNinja

N.W.A. Ninjas With Aptitude

79 Fans

07:18 PM on 10/26/2011

"Or my Mom's gonna be pissed at me" I agree with the news casters, Awwwwwwwwwwww.

Permalink | Share it

ivanivonovich

Some call it being alone, I call it solitude.

259 Fans

06:17 PM on 10/26/2011

Great article, but the writer should have proof read the same because the typo's are frequent. This writer obviously relies on spell check to do this because the offending words are actual words, just the usage is incorrect, in example - hopped "of" the bus, try "off" instead. Or On the phone until a police "office" could get there. I happen to be a High School drop out, but even I know the short comings of spell check. Maybe if the Huffington Post needs a proof reader they could send me an e-mail, I could use the job.

Permalink | Share it

rolse

94 Fans

07:21 PM on 10/26/2011

Marvelous! I hope you get the job!

Permalink | Share it

Neanderthaal

160 Fans

07:25 PM on 10/26/2011

Ten-fo! I too hope they contact you. I do'nt evir usa spiel cheque, i dont/' kneed it!

Permalink | Share it

There are More Comments on this Thread. Click Here To See them All

kindcruelty

50 Fans

06:15 PM on 10/26/2011

What the heck was this bus doing dropping a FIVE yr old off without someone there to meet her?!? Where I am they are NOT allowed to leave a child that young unless an adult is there to meet them, they are returned to the school and phone calls are placed to find out where the adult is.

Permalink | Share it

HUFFPOST SUPER USER

jclew

ToThineOwnSelfBeTrue

44 Fans

05:19 PM on 10/26/2011

Poor child. Glad she is ok, too bad no one remembered her at the end of the day.

Permalink | Share it

Mel243

19 Fans

12:10 AM on 10/27/2011

It's really not that nobody remembered her, though... The mom was rushed to the hospital after becoming ill enough to be rushed to the hospital, and the dad didn't even know... Nowhere does it say that she was neglected.

Permalink | Share it

knickfan212

10 Fans

04:53 PM on 10/26/2011

They need to make a law where the bus driver can't leave a child that young if a designated person is not there to pick the child up.Have the driver write a report and take the child to a pre-designated person on record for emergency or drop at the police station.

Permalink | Share it

ivanivonovich

Some call it being alone, I call it solitude.

259 Fans

06:58 PM on 10/26/2011

A law to do what ?? keep children on buses just because the parent aren't there to meet their child ? Most parents do not meet the bus in the afternoon. I tried to do the "right" thing once when the parent of a kindergarten wasn't there to pick up their child. She couldn't get into her house in the middle of the day where I had dropped her off, so I had her get back on the bus & went back to the school. The parent ended up calling the school district superintendent with their complaint, nearly got fired for doing the right thing. I stood by my actions & ended up having the child given a key to her house so she could at least get in. The parents were still furious that I still was driving the same route, but at least I knew the child was in a reasonable safe location.

Permalink | Share it

disneymom2two

0 Fans

10:47 PM on 10/26/2011

In my town, children under 3rd grade are not allowed to be let off the bus unless there's a parent to meet them. A substitute teacher put my son on the bus one time after I'd sent a note saying I'd be picking him up. I flew down the street after the bus and, because they didn't know I was behind the bus, the driver didn't let him out when no one came out of the house. I called the school, they called the bus company who radioed the driver and they dropped him off. I was very glad they didn't just let him off at 5 alone.

Permalink | Share it

HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR

tyger

671 Fans

04:18 PM on 10/26/2011

This child has more common sense than many adults. So sweet.

Permalink | Share it

GOODDOC1

"civil war" is an oxymoron

857 Fans

04:53 PM on 10/26/2011

She does indeed. If it ever happens again, she'll know to call the police first, and that she won't get in trouble. I hope the mom is OK. Dad too. I know Ameleah is!

Permalink | Share it