Niles wrestler, coach pull man from burning car

A Niles High School wrestler and his coach pulled a man from a burning car — likely saving the man’s life — early Sunday morning on the way home from the state wrestling tournament in Auburn Hills.

Assistant wrestling coach Tom Desenberg was driving the school van south on U.S. 31 when he saw flames coming from the hood of a wrecked car under the Niles-Buchanan Road overpass near Niles around 2 a.m. Wrestler Ryan Casey, who had just taken fifth place at state, and assistant coach Jake Gluekert were passengers in the vehicle.

Desenberg said he stopped the van about 200 yards south of the burning vehicle and got out. Casey and Gluekert followed Desenberg to the flaming car where they found a woman standing near the vehicle.

The woman, visibly upset, asked for help in freeing a male passenger in the front seat out of the vehicle. The flames, Desenger said, had not yet reached the inside of the car.

Desenberg said he tried to get the guy out, but couldn’t, and asked Casey for help.

Casey said the man’s legs were jammed underneath the dash. Once he freed the legs, Casey and Desenberg carried the man to safety, setting him down some 30 feet from the car while Gluekert remained on the phone with police dispatch.

Gluekert and Desenberg then helped walk the man to the school van, while Casey walked the woman to the van.

“I was really impressed by Ryan and the way he handled the situation,” Desenberg said. “He showed a courage way beyond his years.”

Casey said the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames just a few minutes after they got the male passenger out.

“All of a sudden the car exploded — it must have got to the gas tank — and went up pretty big,” Casey said. “At that point, I was like, ‘wow, I was just over there.’”

Desenberg said law enforcement officers showed up shortly after they got the woman and the male to the van.

Desenberg and Casey said they believe the male passenger wouldn’t have made it out of the car in time if they had not been there.

“Two more minutes, and he would’ve been on fire,” Casey said. “It’s pretty crazy. I had a hard time going to sleep that night — it really puts life in perspective.”

After leaving the scene, Desenberg said the three talked about the circumstances that led to them coming upon the scene at 2 a.m. They left the tournament a little late, Desenberg said, and stopped to eat. They also decided to take I-94 instead of their normal route on M-51.

“It was one of those what-if? conversations,” Desenberg said. “What if we wouldn’t have been there?”

According to the police report, the driver of the vehicle was Jennifer Scot and the passenger Maxwel Robinson. Both are from Galien.

Both were taken to the hospital for treatment. The police report said alcohol appears to have contributed to the single-car accident.

SportsPlus

Business

Decorate Dowagiac close to fundraising goal

Brandywine Education

Brandywine hosts annual Veterans Day breakfast

Cassopolis

Merrill Adams crowned Miss Cassopolis 2025

Edwardsburg HS

Niles shuts down Edwardsburg 21-0, wins second straight district title

Crime/Court

Dowagiac man gets probation and jail for assaulting former girlfriend, killing dog

Business

Wings Etc. locations to offer free entrée on Veterans Day to honor military service

Dowagiac

Teacher/Staff Spotlight: Melissa Lillie, Kincheloe Elementary

Berrien County

2024 school board election results

Berrien County

Niles Township marijuana proposal passes

Berrien County

2024 Berrien County local election results

Cass County

2024 Cass County local election results

News

Brandywine volleyball falls to Bridgman in D3 district opener

Community News

Santa, live reindeer to visit Niles Nov. 23

Business

Dowagiac to welcome the holiday season with festive event lineup

Dowagiac HS

Edwardsburg, Dowagiac spikers sweep district foes

Community News

SMC Founders Day celebrates 60th anniversary

Berrien County

MDHHS warns Michigan residents about increase in whooping cough cases

Crime/Court

Niles man gets probation for Joey Armadillo’s disturbance

Community News

Junior Farm Bureau presents plaque to Berrien County Youth Fair Association

Community News

Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant kicks off 84th year

Brandywine HS

Buchanan’s McBeth all-state at cross country state finals

Edwardsburg HS

Eddies control clock, use big plays to derail Beavers 29-8

News

Niles routs Paw Paw 42-14 in D4 playoff opener

Crime/Court

Dowagiac men get prison time on drug charges