Hero 13-Year-Old Saves Sisters From Burning Van


A 13-year-old boy saved his sisters by pulling them from a burning van this week in Indiana.

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According to Indiana news station WTHR, Kaleb Siebert was riding in a car with his mother, 39-year-old Kian Cleefman, and his four siblings, Kassidy Siebert, 11, Karina Castaneda, 10, Klarissa Castaneda, 6, and Kloe Castaneda, 3, in Clinton County. While the kids were half-asleep, an oncoming car hit their van head-on and both vehicles burst into flames.

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None of the family members could be reached for comment, but Kaleb told WTHR, "I didn't feel the impact. I didn't feel the air bag. The only thing I felt was my mom tell me to get out of the car."

"When I opened the door, flames started coming in, but for a couple of seconds went down, so I jumped out," Karina said. Her sister Kassidy followed.

The children’s mother had exited the van and according to Karina, was rolling on the ground on fire.

Meanwhile, the two youngest girls, Klarissa and Kloe, were still trapped inside the burning car.

"My mom yelled, 'Go back in and get your sisters!' I ripped off their seat belts," Kaleb said. "I wasn't thinking, I was running on instinct."

He scooped up his sisters and brought them to safety. Unfortunately, the driver of the second car, identified as 24-year-old Cassandra Luehrs of Frankfort, did not survive. However, all the family members are safe, save for some broken bones, and expected to recover. And Cleefman is currently hospitalized with second-degree burns.

Klarissa told the station, “Well, I’m a little sore” and Karina added, “We were both crying hard and scared.” Said Kassidy, "I was scared. I didn't know if we were going to survive."

Kaleb’s sisters are grateful to their big brother for saving their lives. "Everybody thinks he's a hero," Kassidy said. "So do I. If it wasn't for him, they probably wouldn't be here right now."

Kaleb, whose arm is in a sling because of a broken collarbone, dismissed the praise, telling WTHR, "No, I don't deserve all the glory. God does. He gave me the power to get them."

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