Henry Eicher, Menno Eicher, Paul Eicher, and Simon Girod die in fatal Jay County semi-truck collision

Henry Eicher, Menno Eicher, Paul Eicher, and Simon Girod die in fatal Jay County semi-truck collision

Fatal Jay County semi-truck collision death of Henry Eicher, Menno Eicher, Paul Eicher, and Simon Girod – Obituary

Four residents of Bryant lost their lives Tuesday in a devastating head-on crash in Jay County, Indiana. The victims have been identified as Henry Eicher, 50; Menno Eicher, 25; Paul Eicher, 19; and Simon Girod, 23.

The collision occurred shortly before 4 p.m. at the intersection of Indiana 67 and Jay County Road 559 East. Three of the passengers were pronounced dead at the scene.

Indiana State Police reports indicate that a semi-truck operated by Gert Pretorius, 44, of Geneva, was traveling eastbound on Indiana 67 and had slowed for traffic. Another eastbound semi, driven by Bekzhan Beishekeev, 30, of Philadelphia, failed to stop in time, veering into the westbound lane and striking a Chevrolet van driven by Donald Stipp, 55, of Portland.

The victims were all passengers in Stipp’s van. Emergency responders from Portland, Bryant, and Geneva, along with Jay County EMS and local law enforcement, attended the scene.

The crash is under ongoing investigation by the ISP Critical Incident Reconstruction Team, in coordination with Jay County sheriff’s deputies and the coroner’s office.