Saturday's crash at U.S. 31 and S.R. 10 claims second life

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 3:00 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

Monday morning, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department released additional details of Saturday’s fatal crash at U.S. 31 and State Road 10.

Investigating Officer Rob Hafke’s report says the driver of the semi, 55-year-old Eric Eichenberger of Michigan, was northbound on U.S. 31 at about 7:46 a.m. in a 2024 Freightliner. He was traveling in the driving lane. As he approached the intersection with State Road 10, he saw a UPS Truck cross over U.S. 31 traveling west. The UPS Truck was followed by a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox driven by 57-year-old Christopher Jankoviak, also of Michigan, and his vehicle slowed because of the UPS truck in front of him as the semi was approaching.

Eichenberger told Officer Hafke he was unable to avoid the collision and struck the Equinox in the driver’s side, coming to rest in the median just north of the intersection.

Jankoviak was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in his vehicle, Johnny Jankoviak, was flown by helicopter to Memorial Hospital in South Bend. The GiveSendGo Shine Brightly funding page was updated and states that Johnny Jankoviak has also passed from injuries sustained in the accident.

Deputy Hafke was assisted at the scene by Argos, Police, Fire, and EMS.