The driver of a semi-truck involved in a tragic multi-vehicle accident in Indiana, which resulted in four fatalities, is currently in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This crash took place around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, when a truck struck a van near State Route 67 and County Road 550 East in Jay County, according to Indiana State Police.
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed that the driver, Bekzan Bayshekeyev, a Kyrgyz national, entered the U.S. on December 19, 2024, through the Nogales, Arizona, port of entry using the mobile app CBP One under the Biden administration’s policies. He had been paroled to enter the country.
Bayshekeyev, 30, was reportedly driving along SR 67 when he failed to stop for another semi-truck that had slowed down. This led him to veer into oncoming traffic, resulting in a head-on collision with a van, claiming the lives of four people, including several Amish individuals.
According to a statement from Indiana State Police, “A 2019 International semi-tractor-trailer, driven by Gerd Pretoluy, 44, was moving eastbound on SR 67 when he slowed for traffic. Meanwhile, a 2022 Freightliner semi-tractor-trailer operated by Bekzan Bayshekeyev was also traveling eastbound, but he didn’t stop, causing the crash with a 2011 Chevrolet van driven by Donald Stipp, 55.”
Authorities identified the four victims as Henry Eicher, 50, Menno Eicher, 25, Paul Eicher, 19, and Simon Girod, 23, all from Bryant, Indiana. Following the incident, ICE took Bayshekeyev into immigration detention at the Jay County Jail on February 4, 2026. They noted, due to Indiana’s cooperation with ICE, he was taken into custody the next day.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized the situation, stating, “Bayshekeyev was allowed into the country under the Biden administration through the CBP One app and was later provided a commercial driver’s license by Pennsylvania’s Governor Shapiro. These decisions had fatal consequences, leading to the deaths of four innocent individuals.” There’s concern over the safety of allowing illegal immigrants who may not be familiar with U.S. traffic laws to drive heavy vehicles.
The Indiana State Police Major Incident Recovery Team, along with the local sheriff’s office and coroner’s office, continue to investigate. A GoFundMe page for Stipp indicates he is stable following surgery for a broken arm, although at one point he was reported to be unconscious in the hospital.
