Tragic Crash Claims Lives of Indian Family on Holiday Trip
A devastating head-on collision in Texas, caused by a teenager under the influence of drugs, resulted in the heartbreaking loss of six Indian-origin individuals in December 2023. The sole survivor from their vehicle was left paralyzed, having lost his entire immediate family.
Details of the Fatal Collision
The incident occurred on December 26, 2023, around 4 p.m. on U.S. Highway 67 near County Road 1119, south of Cleburne. Luke Garrett Resecker, who was 17 years old at the time, was driving under the influence of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive component in marijuana. His car veered into the oncoming lane, crashing head-on into a minivan.
The minivan was carrying an Indian family from Georgia that was returning from a visit to the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose. Rushil Barri, 28, was driving the vehicle. Authorities found THC inside Resecker's car, and subsequent toxicology reports confirmed the presence of active THC in his system at the time of the accident.
The Victims and the Survivor's Agony
The crash claimed the lives of all occupants of the minivan except one. The victims have been identified as:
- Naveena Potabathula, 36
- Nageswararao Ponnada, 64
- Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 60
- Krithik Potabathula, 10
- Nishidha Potabathula, 9
- Rushil Barri, 28 (the driver)
Lokesh, Rushil Barri's cousin, was the only survivor from the family's vehicle. He was left paralyzed from the waist down. In a single moment, he lost his wife, his two young children, his cousin, and his in-laws, who were visiting from India. The passenger in Resecker's car also suffered a severe traumatic brain injury.
Legal Reckoning and a Sobering Reminder
Now 19, Luke Garrett Resecker has been sentenced to 65 years in prison for his actions. He was initially charged with six counts of intoxication manslaughter, two counts of intoxication assault, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana.
Prosecuting attorneys Connor Day and Stephanie Miller described the event as a sobering reminder of the irreversible consequences of impaired and reckless driving. This tragic case highlights the devastating impact of driving under the influence of drugs, leaving multiple families shattered and a community in mourning.
