On July 1, 2025, at around 3:02 p.m., the Lima Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a report of a crash on I-75 near Beaverdam, Ohio, in Allen County.
Donald Eckler, 82, of Lincolnton, North Carolina, was driving a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado southbound on Interstate 75’s northbound lanes. Mr. Eckler collided with a 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van head on.
Yazan Aljayousi, 22, of Dearborn, Michigan, drove the Mercedes-Benz.
A 2014 Freightliner Semi driven by Douglas Smith, 53, of Bay City, Michigan, collided with debris from the crash and a 2017 Acura RDX driven by Sukhpal Dhaliwal, 40, of Tipp City, Ohio, which had swerved to avoid the crash. The Acura then drove off the right side of the road and overturned.
Terrance Lajiness, 59, of Rockwood, Michigan, was driving a 2016 Honda Pilot when it collided with crash debris.
Donald Eckler was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Allen County Coroner’s Office transported him from the scene to the Bailiff and Sons Funeral Home in Cridersville, Ohio.
Yazan Aljayousi sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported by Bluffton EMS to Mercy Health St. Rita’s Hospital in Lima, Ohio.
Sukhpal Dhaliwal was treated for minor injuries at the scene of the crash.
The crash did not result in any injuries to Douglas Smith or Terrance Lajiness.
Miller Auto towed the Chevrolet away from the scene after it sustained severe damage. Miller Performance towed the severely damaged Mercedes-Benz from the scene. Kenny’s Towing towed the severely damaged Acura from the scene. Big Daddy’s Towing assisted in driving the Honda away from the scene after it sustained minor damage. The Freightliner sustained minor damage and was driven away from the scene.
Beaverdam-Richland Fire, Beaverdam-Richland EMS, Bluffton EMS, Bath Township EMS, The Ohio Department of Transportation, Beaverdam Fleet, Miller Auto, Miller Performance, Kenny’s Towing, Big Daddy’s Towing, and the Allen County Coroner’s Office all assisted the Ohio State Highway Patrol on the scene.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol encourages everyone to put their phones away while driving and to wear their seat belts.
The crash is still under investigation.
