Background: News footage of the crash on Dec. 26, 2023 that killed six members of one family (WXIA). Inset (left): Luke Resecker (Texas Department of Public Safety). Inset (right): The Potabathula and Ponnada families (GoFundMe).
A Texas teenager has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after a tragic collision that resulted in the deaths of six family members. Luke Resecker, 19, was sentenced on October 27 after being convicted of six counts of manslaughter, nearly two years after the fatal crash. The incident occurred when Resecker, driving under the influence of THC, veered his pickup truck into oncoming traffic and collided with a minivan carrying seven family members.
The devastating crash left six family members dead and the sole survivor, Lokesh Potabathula, paralyzed from the waist down. Resecker and his passenger, who suffered a traumatic brain injury, were also injured in the crash, the Johnson and Somervelle County District Attorney’s Office reported.
In addition to manslaughter, Resecker faced convictions for two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and six counts of driving while intoxicated. Consequently, the jury delivered a 65-year prison sentence.
The Texas Department of Safety identified the victims of the December 26, 2023, crash as Rushil Barri, 28; Nageswararao Ponnada, 64; Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 60; Naveena Potabathula, 36; Krithik Potabathula, 10; and Nishidha Potabathula, 9. The lone survivor, Lokesh Potabathula, 43, sustained critical injuries and lost his wife, two children, in-laws, and a cousin in the crash.
According to a report by WXIA, an Atlanta-based NBC affiliate, the Potabathula family was visiting Texas from their home in Alpharetta, Georgia, for the holidays. The Ponnada family had traveled from India for the visit, while Barri, a cousin, was studying in Texas after moving from India.
Authorities confirmed that Resecker had THC in his system at the time of the accident. They also discovered THC wax, marijuana, and a vape pen in his vehicle.
Dallas-based Fox affiliate KDFW reported that Resecker’s passenger, 17-year-old Preston Glass, sustained a traumatic brain injury that left him mentally impaired.
As Law&Crime previously reported, a crash report stated that Resecker veered into oncoming traffic when he crossed the double yellow line on the U.S. 67 highway. He drove the wrong way until he hit the minivan that was being driven by Barri and carrying the Ponnada and Potabathula families.
