ICE takes semi driver into custody after Jay County crash that killed 4

JAY COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - The semi driver accused of causing a crash that killed four people was handed over Thursday to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to a press release from Indiana State Police, troopers were called to State Road 67 and County Road 550 E on Tuesday around 4 p.m. to assist the Jay County Sheriff's Department with a crash. Following an initial investigation, police determined that the driver of a semi, 30-year-old Bekzhan Beishekeev, was traveling east on SR 67 near CR 550 E when he did not stop for another slowed semi tractor. The eastbound semi then swerved into the westbound lane and crashed head-on into a van. ISP initially said the crash killed three people and left others in serious and life-threatening condition; in an update Wednesday, officials announced a fourth person had died. According to the Jay County Sheriff's Office, Beishekeev was arrested through a bench warrant, meaning that his charges weren't related to the crash. A bench warrant is used for individuals who fail to comply with certain court-ordered measures, usually in another county or state. The sheriff confirmed Beishekeev was then picked up by Indiana State Police on an immigration warrant Wednesday and was turned over to federal authorities Thursday morning. Beishekeev, who is from Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia, was then taken into custody by ICE. As of Thursday evening, he resides in the Fulton County Jail. The Jay County Coroner identified the victims as four men from the town of Bryant: 50-year-old Henry Eicher, 25-year-old Menno Eicher, 19-year-old Paul Eicher and 23-year-old Simon Girod. The driver of the van, Donald Stipp, 55, remains in the hospital, according to a GoFundMe* organized by the man's wife. She said in an update Wednesday he was in stable condition after surgery on his left arm. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Beishekeev came to the U.S. by using the Biden administration’s CBP One app. He was then issued a commercial driver's license in Pennsylvania. Beishekeev will remain in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings, DHS said Thursday. DHS said in its press release this case is the latest in a "disturbing pattern" of commercial drivers who are in the country illegally, "directly threatening public safety and resulting in senseless loss of life." In October, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem reported there were more than 140 truck drivers arrested in Indiana during Operation Midway Blitz, which targeted people with illegal status. DHS specifically named three instances in the last few months, one involving Akhror Bozorov, who was arrested by ICE in November. He was wanted in his home country of Uzbekistan for belonging to a terrorist organization. While in the U.S., he had been issued a CDL in Pennsylvania. Also in October, ICE arrested Anmol Anmol, to whom the state of New York had issued a CDL under the name “No Name Given Anmol,” according to DHS. In another instance in August, ICE lodged an arrest detainer for Harjinder Singh, who was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide while driving a semi in Florida. Outside of the immigration case, the Indiana State Police Critical Incident Reconstruction Team is working with the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Division, Jay County Sheriff’s Department, and Jay County Coroner to complete the crash investigation. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this video misstated the direction of the semi trucks. *WANE.com does not assure that the monies or donations deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a donation, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.