Man lifts car off of trapped first-grader

An Ottawa, Kansas man has been hailed as a hero after lifting a car off of a trapped young girl, which may benefit used Mercury models in New Jersey.

Ashlyn Hough, age 6, was walking down her street on the way to school when she was hit by a neighbor who was backing out of their driveway. Ashlyn was pushed out into the street and was pinned under the car.

Nick Harris, who was dropping his 8-year-old daughter off at school, saw the incident and rushed over the help.

"I didn't even think," he said, quoted by the Associated Press. "I ran over there as fast as I could, grabbed the rear end of the car and lifted and pushed as hard as I could to get the tire off the child."

Harris carried Ashlyn over to the sidewalk and was going back to get his cell phone from his car to dial 911, but the first-grader asked him to stay with her. He told onlookers to get the child's mother who lives just down the street.

Ashlyn was sent to the hospital, but was later released after suffering a concussion and some minor bumps and bruises.

Harris, who is 5-foot-7 and 185 pounds, said he has no idea how he was able to lift the Mercury sedan off of the girl.

"I've tried four or five times since then, [and] I can't do it, it's impossible," Harris said, quoted by CourierMail.com. "Christmas miracle, I guess."

Ashlyn's family, who happen to be neighbors with Harris, have praised him as a hero.

"I don't consider myself a hero at all," Harris said. "To me, it was payment enough when she gave me that huge hug and said, 'Thanks, Superman.'"

Nick Harris' amazing story of heroism may attract more attention to used Mercury models in New Jersey.