Police identify victims in Toll Road crash that killed 3, hurt 2 others

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. (WNDU) - Indiana State Police have identified three people who were killed and two others who were hurt in a crash on the Indiana Toll Road Sunday evening in western St. Joseph County.

Just before 8 p.m., Indiana State Police dispatch began receiving calls of a serious crash near mile marker 67 involving two vehicles that had eastbound lanes blocked.

ISP’s preliminary investigation indicates that a white 2017 Ford SUV was traveling west when it hit a deer and then crossed the center median before colliding with a black 2017 Ford pickup truck that was traveling in the opposite direction.

Both the driver and front seat passenger of the SUV were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was identified as Mark Pelini, 31, of Canfield, Ohio, and the passenger was identified as Jillian Marian, 31, of Youngstown, Ohio.

Pelini was an offensive lineman for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team from 2010 through 2014. He was also the nephew of former Cornhusker head football coach Bo Pelini.

A front seat passenger in the pickup was also pronounced dead at the scene. She has been identified as Jane Beecher, 57, of Harrisburg, Pa.

Meanwhile, the driver of the pickup and a backseat passenger were also hurt in the crash. The driver has been identified as David Taylor, 56, of Harrisburg, Pa., and the backseat passenger was identified as Christopher Taylor, 29, of Harrisburg, Pa. They remain in the hospital due to their injuries.

The families of the deceased have been notified.

The crash remains under investigation.

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