IONIA COUNTY, Michigan — Three people were injured in a violent crash in Ionia County last Thursday. Luckily everyone is safe.

Among those in the car at the time of the accident were the adult male driver, a nine-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl. The hero is the nine-year-old boy himself, Phillip Clark.

Phillip was asleep in the backseat next to his three-year-old half-sister Ayla. “When Ayla realized we had been in a car accident, she started crying, and my heart sank when I heard her cry,” Phillip said.

Within minutes the car crashed into a tree and immediately caught fire.

The man driving the car was Ayla’s father. The man, who broke his leg due to the impact, could not save his daughter. Phillip was also injured, but he knew what to do. “I climbed over Ayla, pulled her out of the car, put her in a safe place and then we watched the car burn a little bit,” Phillip said.

Despite Phillip’s injuries, he decided that Ayla’s life was more important than his own. “If we didn’t get out of there, we’d be burning,” Phillip said.

Two good samaritans helped Ayla’s father get out of the car before it burned completely.

Ayla’s mother, Alexandria, will be forever grateful to Phillip. “Honestly, I owe my whole life to that kid because he saved my baby,” Alexandria said.

When Alexandria first arrived on the scene, she didn’t know if she would ever see her daughter again. “When I saw the car, the only thing that went through my mind was that my child was dead… there is no way my child could make it through this,” Alexandria said.

Phillip was in the hospital for several days because he needed surgery. “I had a perforated intestine,” Phillip said. “I have a scar that runs from my waist to just above my belly button.”

Phillip is recovering at home after surgery, and Ayla’s father, who broke his femur, is also recovering with him.

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