JAY COUNTY, Ind. — Four people from Bryant died and others were seriously hurt in a violent crash on State Road 67 just before 4 p.m. Tuesday, February 3, law enforcement says. The collision unfolded at the intersection with County Road 550 East, a stretch of highway that leads through the heart of this rural northeastern Indiana community.
Indiana State Police troopers were called to the scene to assist the Jay County Sheriff’s Department after reports of a head‑on crash involving two semi‑tractor trailers and a passenger van. Based on the reconstruction so far, one of the semis failed to stop for traffic slowing ahead and crossed into the opposite lane, smashing into the van in a devastating impact.
The Jay County Coroner’s Office has identified all four people who died as residents of Bryant: 50‑year‑old Henry Eicher, 25‑year‑old Menno Eicher, 19‑year‑old Paul Eicher, and 23‑year‑old Simon Girod. Each was inside the van when it was struck. Community members remembered them as family, friends, and neighbors whose loss leaves a deep hole in local life.
First responders found the scene chaotic, with wreckage strewn across the snowy roadside and emergency crews from multiple departments working to care for survivors and clear the road. Several people were taken to hospitals with life‑threatening and serious injuries, though authorities have not released exact numbers or conditions.
This stretch of State Road 67 runs through fields and small towns, and Tuesday’s crash sent shockwaves through Jay County. Local residents spoke of their disbelief and grief, saying the Eichers and Girod were familiar faces at community events and gatherings, known for their warmth and kindness.
The Indiana State Police Critical Incident Reconstruction Team is leading the investigation, working with the Commercial Vehicle Division, the Jay County Sheriff’s Department, and the Coroner’s Office. Officials say it will take time to determine the full sequence of events, including any mechanical issues or road conditions that may have contributed.
Neighbors and family have begun holding informal vigils and sharing memories of the loved ones lost in the collision. A community that normally moves at a quiet pace now finds itself struggling to make sense of sudden loss and asking tough questions about highway safety and how a day like any other turned so tragic.
In the wake of the crash, friends describe the Eichers and Girod not by how they died, but by how they lived: surrounded by people who cared and dreams not yet fully realized. As Jay County grieves, residents hope the investigation brings clarity and that steps will be taken to prevent another heartbreak like this on their roads.
