Investigators identify car crash victims

KIMMEL, Ind. -- Investigators have identified all four people killed in a fiery one-car crash over the weekend.\nThe passengers were identified as Joel Bressler, 21, of Elkhart; Joshua Richards, 23, of Millersburg; and Kevin Yoder of Elkhart County. Yoder was also in his early 20s, authorities said.\nThe driver was identified from dental records Monday as Reuben Escobedo of Elkhart, said Noble County Coroner John Brazzell. Escobedo also was in his early 20s, he said.\nA 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee was northbound on U.S. 33 about 30 miles northwest of Fort Wayne when it left the roadway on a curve about 3:45 a.m. Saturday, according to a Sheriff's Department report. It continued in the ditch for about 420 feet before hitting a tree head-on.\nThe men were returning home from a Fort Wayne nightclub, Brazzell said.\nBressler, Richards and Yoder all worked together at KW Yoder Construction Co., a builder of custom homes. Richards started work there a week ago. \nOwner Kevin Yoder, no relation to the victim, described his employees as fine young men.\n"All were beginning to piece together their lives, learn trades and better themselves," he said.\nYoder was notified of one of the deaths on Saturday and helped authorities determine the identities of the other victims.\nSheriff Gary Leatherman said speed was apparently a factor in the crash. No other vehicles were involved, police said.\nToxicology tests were conducted on the men but results will not be available for about two weeks, Brazzell said.