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Elk Grove Today
By the People, for the People
High School Wrestling Coach Survives Fiery Car Explosion
Onterrio Burris recounts his harrowing experience after his brakes failed and his vehicle burst into flames.
Mar. 26, 2026 at 9:44pm
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Onterrio Burris, a 20-year-old high school wrestling coach in Northern California, narrowly escaped a fiery car explosion after his brakes suddenly failed while he was driving home from Elk Grove. Burris says he pushed the brake pedal to the floor but there was no response, so he used the emergency brake to stop the car. Moments later, smoke began pouring through the vents and flames erupted inside the vehicle. Burris grabbed his belongings and moved away as the car became fully engulfed, with the fire even melting a nearby vehicle. While Burris was uninjured, the loss of the truck, a gift from his grandfather, is deeply personal.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the importance of vehicle safety and maintenance, as well as the risks coaches and student-athletes can face when relying on personal vehicles for transportation. Burris' story also underscores the sentimental value of certain possessions and the impact their loss can have, especially for those in public service roles.
The details
Burris says he was driving home from Elk Grove on Monday morning when his brakes suddenly failed about a mile from his house. He pushed the brake pedal all the way down but there was no response, so he used the emergency brake to bring the car to a stop. Within moments, smoke began pouring through the air vents and Burris could see flames inside the vehicle. He tried to open the hood but couldn't, so he grabbed his belongings and moved away as the car became fully engulfed in flames. The fire was so intense it even melted a nearby vehicle.
- On Monday morning, Burris was driving home from Elk Grove.
- The brakes failed about a mile from Burris' house.
The players
Onterrio Burris
A 20-year-old high school wrestling coach in Northern California.
What they’re saying
“I'm pushing it all the way down, like, to the floorboard. And there's no brakes at all.”
— Onterrio Burris, High School Wrestling Coach
“I'm also super lucky that it didn't lead to my rear end, because my gas tank was right there, and I had about a half a tank, and if that would have caught on fire, would have just blew up completely.”
— Onterrio Burris, High School Wrestling Coach
What’s next
Burris has set up a GoFundMe to help replace the truck, which held sentimental value as a gift from his grandfather. The loss of the vehicle could impact his ability to support his student-athletes, especially with summer training approaching.
The takeaway
This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of vehicle safety and maintenance, as well as the risks that coaches and student-athletes can face when relying on personal transportation. Burris' story also highlights the profound impact the loss of a sentimental possession can have, especially for those in public service roles.
