(JAY COUNTY) - Federal immigration authorities have taken custody of the semi driver involved in a crash that killed four people in Jay County.
The crash happened around 4 p.m. Tuesday at State Road 67 and County Road 550 East. Indiana State Police say 30-year-old Bekzhan Beishekeev, who is from Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia, was driving eastbound when he failed to stop for a slowed semi, crossed into the westbound lane, and crashed head-on into a van.
Three people were initially reported dead. Authorities confirmed Wednesday that a fourth victim later died from injuries.
The Jay County Sheriff's Office said Beishekeev was first arrested on a bench warrant unrelated to the crash. He was then taken into custody on an immigration warrant and transferred Thursday morning to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The Jay County Coroner identified the victims as 50-year-old Henry Eicher, 25-year-old Menno Eicher, 19-year-old Paul Eicher, and 23-year-old Simon Girod, all from Bryant.
The van's driver, 55-year-old Donald Stipp of Portland, survived and remains hospitalized. Family members say he is in stable condition following surgery.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Beishekeev entered the U.S. using the CBP One app and was later issued a commercial driver's license in Pennsylvania. DHS said the case is part of what it called a troubling pattern involving commercial drivers without legal status.
The Indiana State Police Critical Incident Reconstruction Team continues to investigate the crash. No criminal charges related to the collision have been announced.