Another resident, Robert Hegerberg, witnessed the crash after leaving a Lions Club meeting. He directed traffic and took photos, determined to ensure the rescuers’ bravery wasn’t forgotten. In the days that followed, he contacted city officials, tracked down the heroes, and shared the photos to document what happened.
On November 26, the City of Battle Creek publicly praised the rescuers, noting that Waschak is trained to help people over the phone — not run into burning vehicles. City leaders and police are now preparing citizen awards and working to identify the third man involved.
Mayor Mark Behnke applauded the community, saying their actions show why Battle Creek is “beautiful because of its people.” Thanks to these neighbors, a devastating crash became a powerful story of courage and humanity.