Illegal Immigrant Kills Four Amish in Horrific Truck Crash

A tragic multi-vehicle crash unfolded on February 3, 2026, in Jay County, Indiana, when a semi-truck driven by 30-year-old Bekzhan Beishekeev failed to brake for a slowed tractor-trailer ahead, swerved into oncoming traffic, and collided head-on with a 15-passenger van.

The impact claimed the lives of four individuals—reportedly members of an Amish community—including Henry Eicher (50), Menno Eicher (25), Paul Eicher (19), and Simon Girod (23). Beishekeev, a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, held a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) issued by the state. Authorities from the Indiana State Police and Jay County Sheriff’s Office responded swiftly, with the driver initially detained on unrelated charges before federal intervention.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Beishekeev, originally from Kyrgyzstan, entered the United States via the CBP One app—a mobile platform introduced during the Biden administration that facilitated parole entries for migrants at ports of entry. Critics, including DHS officials, have labeled this entry as part of broader “catch and release” policies, arguing it allowed individuals without full legal status to remain in the country. Beishekeev obtained his Pennsylvania CDL, enabling him to operate commercial vehicles nationwide despite his immigration status, which DHS described as that of an illegal alien. ICE took him into custody on an immigration warrant on February 5, 2026, highlighting ongoing federal scrutiny of such cases.This incident has intensified national debate over state-issued CDLs for noncitizens, particularly in Pennsylvania, where federal audits have previously flagged issues with nondomiciled licenses and threatened funding cuts. The crash echoes a pattern of fatal accidents involving immigrant truck drivers with CDLs from states accused of lax enforcement on immigration verification and English proficiency requirements. Conservative voices and DHS statements have pointed to Pennsylvania’s policies under Governor Josh Shapiro as enabling unqualified or improperly vetted drivers to operate heavy vehicles, potentially endangering public safety on highways.The tragedy underscores deeper concerns about border and immigration enforcement remnants from prior administrations, with the CBP One app—now repurposed under the current Trump administration—cited as a key factor in allowing entry that led to this outcome. As investigations continue into the crash’s causes, including any contributing factors like driver fatigue or inexperience, the event has fueled calls for stricter federal oversight of CDL issuance to noncitizens and reforms to prevent similar incidents. Families of the victims mourn profound losses, while the case amplifies demands for accountability in how states and federal policies intersect on transportation safety and immigration.