GIRL SCOUTS TRIP TURNS TRAGIC: MOM AND 8-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER LOST, FOUR CHILDREN INJURED IN HORRIFIC CRASH

What was supposed to be a fun trip for a group of children ended with a devastating crash — leaving a mother and her 8-year-old daughter gone and four other children hospitalized.

Amanda Wertman and her daughter, Michaela, 8, were heading home from a Girl Scouts outing to Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana, when their vehicle was struck in a horrific collision Saturday evening in Pike County.

Michaela was one of four children traveling with Amanda.

Now, families are left trying to understand how a night that began with a children’s outing ended in tragedy.

A NIGHTMARE ON THE WAY HOME

The crash happened on State Road 64 near County Road 1000 East.

According to Indiana State Police, the collision involved a red Toyota Camry that was reportedly being pursued after authorities responded to a domestic violence-related call.

Police said a Pike County sheriff’s deputy was responding to a call at a gas station around 7:42 p.m. when the Camry left the area.

Investigators say the vehicle allegedly forced another driver off the road, failed to stop at a flashing red light and later crossed into the deputy’s lane.

The deputy avoided the vehicle and began pursuing it.

Moments later, police say the Camry crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a Toyota Sienna driven by Amanda Wertman.

AMANDA AND MICHAELA DIDN’T MAKE IT HOME

Amanda, 41, and her daughter were both critically injured.

Amanda was lost at the scene, according to Indiana State Police.

Michaela was transported to a hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, where she later succumbed to her injuries.

Amanda’s 5-year-old son, Theodore, was also inside the vehicle and remains hospitalized.

The family has now launched a fundraiser to help Theodore recover while also supporting his father, Simon, through the devastating aftermath.

FOUR CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE

Four children were traveling in the Sienna with Amanda.

One of them was 8-year-old Oaklie Disney, whose family has publicly shared updates about her condition.

Oaklie suffered two brain bleeds and was receiving treatment at Louisville Children’s Hospital.

Her parents have remained by her side as she undergoes treatment.

The other injured children have not all been publicly identified, but Indiana State Police said the three surviving children are expected to recover.

Another injured girl, identified by her family as Amelia, was transported by medical helicopter for treatment.

THE INVESTIGATION NOW FOCUSES ON THE PURSUIT

The circumstances surrounding the crash are now under investigation by the Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team.

Investigators are working to reconstruct exactly what happened between the initial police response and the collision.

The reported pursuit has become a major part of the investigation.

Authorities have not yet released the identity of the Camry driver, who also died in the collision.

Investigators will have to determine the sequence of events, the decisions made during the pursuit and what led the Camry into the path of the family vehicle.

A HAPPY DAY ENDED IN HEARTBREAK

For the children involved, the day had started with something completely different.

They had spent time together on a Girl Scouts trip to Holiday World — a day that should have ended with children returning home tired, excited and full of memories.

Instead, parents were rushing to hospitals.

Families were making emergency phone calls.

And one family was suddenly facing the unimaginable loss of a mother and her young daughter.

Fundraisers have since been established for the Wertman family and for Oaklie’s family as the injured children continue recovering.

Amanda and Michaela were simply on their way home.

A few moments later, everything changed.

One family lost a mother and daughter.

Four children were left fighting to recover.

And investigators are now working to determine exactly how a routine drive home from a Girl Scouts trip became a devastating tragedy.