Bourne School Committee Honors Middle School Custodian for Heroic Act

BOURNE (WBSM) — A school employee was recently recognized by the Bourne School Committee for his heroic act in saving a man from a burning vehicle that had crashed into a Wareham home.

According to Superintendent Kerri Anne Quinlan-Zhou, the School Committee honored Bourne Middle School custodian John Kelsch at its September 11 meeting.

Kelsch was doing yard work at his home in Wareham on the evening of September 8 when he witnessed a van crash into the side of a nearby Marion Road home and catch fire.

READ MORE: Van Crashes Into Vacant Wareham Home and Causes Fire

Luckily, the home was vacant at the time and undergoing renovations, but the front of the van had landed on the roof of the home and the driver was stuck in the burning vehicle several feet above the ground.

Kelsch ran over to the vehicle and climbed a tree in order to reach the door of the van. He then was able to open the van door to assist the driver in getting out of the van before Kelsch fell out of the tree.

The driver of the van was later transported to the hospital by Wareham EMS.

“In a moment of crisis, Mr. Kelsch reacted immediately to help free this driver from his burning vehicle, risking his safety to save another,” Superintendent Quinlan-Zhou said. “We are incredibly proud and grateful to have Mr. Kelsch in our BPS community. Mr. Kelsch, thank you for your bravery and for being a shining example of a true hero.”