Two men have died from Saturday crash with Freightliner near Argos

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 8:46 AM

By Staff report

Two are now dead from crash near Argos Saturday.

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department released additional details of Saturday’s fatal crash near Argos at U.S. 31 and State Road 10.

The investigating officer's report says the driver of the semi, Eric Eichenberger, 55, 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 said 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 Vankoviak, was flown by helicopter to Memorial Hospital in South Bend. The GiveSendGo Shine Brightly funding page was updated and states that Johnny Vankoviak has also passed from injuries sustained in the accident.

Argos, Police, Fire, and EMS assisted at the scene.