Abby Perez was in awe Thursday morning of the size of fire that destroyed a building across the street from her house.
“I know there was one young man who didn’t get out,” she said while sitting on her porch in Mitchell, holding her baby boy. “One other kid came out of the house with his back on fire and was rolling around on the grass.”
After knocking down a fire, law enforcement confirmed Tylor Kostrzewski, 18, a Mitchell Technical Institute student, died Thursday in an early-morning apartment fire in Mitchell.
Kostrzewski, a Kimball native, lived on the second floor of the three-story house at 515 W. Third Ave. that was converted into apartments.
Kimball School Counselor Levi Reindl said services for students at the school who may have known Kostrzewski are available. For confidentiality reasons, he did not divulge whether any students had used the services.
“Tylor was a good kid. He was well-liked by all the teachers and all the students. I don’t know if there was a student that didn’t like Tylor,” Reindl said. “He had a great sense of humor and was funny and fun to be around.”
Reindl has been school counselor for six years and has known Kostrzewski since Reindl started his job. He said anyone could have a normal conversation with Kostrzewski and he will be greatly missed.
“He was really excited to go to Mitchell Tech,” Reindl said. “He was taking dual credit courses and was really excited to get going with his career in life. He always had a smile on his face.”
Julie Brookbank, director for marketing and public relations at MTI, confirmed later another MTI student was living in the house. Kelby Lutter, 18, also of Kimball, was Kostrzewski’s roommate. Lutter escaped with injuries and was being treated at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital, Brookbank said.
Assistant Fire Chief Paul Morris said crews arrived on scene about 5 a.m. to the front of the building engulfed in flames.
Two of the residents were taken to Avera Queen of Peace Hospital for smoke inhalation, burns and other medical treatment, according to a press release.
An autopsy is planned for Kostrzewski.
