11-year-old honored after calling 911 to save 88-year-old neighbor trapped under car
CLANTON, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) - What began as a quiet Friday afternoon in his yard turned into a life-saving moment for 11-year-old Caleb McKee.
McKee was playing in his yard in early May when he heard his 88-year-old neighbor, Ms. Wright, crying out for help. Moments earlier, Wright had accidentally become trapped under her own car.
“I ran over and asked if she was OK,” McKee recalled. “She kept saying she needed the car off her legs.”
Wright’s vehicle had rolled over her legs, pinning her to the ground. With no adults nearby and his parents at work, McKee stayed calm and did what he was taught: he ran inside, grabbed a phone and dialed 911.
“They said they were sending everything—firefighters, paramedics, police,” McKee said.
Though McKee didn’t know the exact address, emergency responders were still able to arrive quickly. Working together, they used logs and a jack to lift the car off Wright and free her from the wreckage.
McKee stayed by her side until first responders cleared the scene.
“It was graphic. Not something everybody should see,” he said. “But I stayed with her until everybody left.”
Caleb’s parents, Mike and Leigh, say their son showed remarkable bravery and composure in a moment of crisis.
“For an 11-year-old to stay that calm— we were really proud,” Mike said.
That same evening, the family sat together to pray for Wright and reflect on the day’s events.
“There’s no doubt God was working that day,” Leigh said. “Normally Caleb wouldn’t have even been home. But everything lined up. It was a miracle.”
Wright is now recovering from multiple broken bones and has one more surgery scheduled. She recently visited the McKees to thank Caleb in person.
“She said she was thankful,” Caleb said.
On Monday night, the Clanton City Council honored Caleb for his quick thinking and courage.
He doesn’t think of himself as a hero but his town sure does.
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