Teen driver receives 65-year sentence for fatal crash killing six Georgia family members
Location & Victims’ Names:
The deadly crash occurred near Cleburne in Johnson County, Texas — specifically on U.S. Highway 67 near County Road 1119. The victims were Rushil Barri (28), Naveena Potabathula (36), Nageswararao Ponnada (64), Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada (60), Kruthik Potabathula (10), and Nishidha Potabathula (9).
Detailed Account of What Happened:
On December 26, 2023, at around 4 p.m., 19-year-old Luke Garrett Resecker was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado on U.S. 67 in Johnson County when he crossed over the double-yellow line and slammed head-on into a 2021 Honda Odyssey minivan. Inside the van was a Georgia family traveling together after the holidays.
The impact was catastrophic. Six members of the family were killed instantly, while one man — Lokesh Potabathula, 43 — survived but suffered life-altering injuries, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. The victims were part of two related families visiting from Georgia: the Potabathulas and the Ponnadas, originally from India but long settled in the United States. Among those who passed were two young children, 10-year-old Kruthik and 9-year-old Nishidha, whose deaths especially shook both the Georgia and Texas communities.
Investigation & Evidence:
Investigators discovered THC wax, marijuana, and a vape pen inside Resecker’s truck. Toxicology tests later confirmed that he had marijuana in his system at the time of the crash. Authorities determined that Resecker had been attempting to pass in a no-passing zone when his vehicle drifted into oncoming traffic.
His passenger, 17-year-old Preston Glass, was also severely injured and suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him permanently impaired. Prosecutors argued that Resecker’s reckless and impaired driving caused one of the deadliest crashes in the area’s history, claiming six innocent lives and devastating two families.
During the trial, the courtroom was filled with emotional testimony. Survivors and relatives of the victims spoke about the pain of losing multiple generations in a single moment — grandparents, parents, and children — who were remembered for their kindness, intelligence, and deep sense of family.
Legal Outcome & Sentence:
Following a jury trial, Resecker was found guilty on multiple counts, including six counts of intoxication manslaughter, two counts of intoxication assault, and two counts of possession of controlled substances. He was sentenced to 65 years in prison by a Texas jury.
Prosecutors emphasized that the sentence reflected not only the loss of six lives but also the permanent harm caused to the survivors. Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Miller told jurors that each name represented a life filled with promise — lives cut short because of one driver’s reckless decision to drive under the influence.
Impact & Aftermath:
The loss reverberated across the community. In Georgia and Texas, friends and relatives gathered for memorial services to honor the victims. Vigils were held, and prayers offered for the family members whose lives were cut short. The case became a solemn reminder of how quickly lives can change due to impaired driving.
The surviving family members continue to struggle with grief and the physical aftermath of the tragedy. Lokesh Potabathula, now paralyzed, remains under long-term care. Family representatives have said that while justice was served, “no sentence can replace what we’ve lost.”
Why This Case Matters:
The crash stands as one of the most tragic examples of the dangers of impaired and reckless driving. Authorities have used this case to highlight the risks of driving under the influence of drugs — particularly marijuana and THC concentrates — which impair judgment, reaction time, and coordination.
The 65-year sentence serves as both a punishment and a message: impaired driving has consequences that can last a lifetime, not only for the driver but for innocent families caught in its path.
Summary:
Near Cleburne, Texas, a horrific head-on collision on December 26, 2023, claimed the lives of six members of a Georgia family — Rushil Barri, Naveena Potabathula, Nageswararao Ponnada, Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, Kruthik Potabathula, and Nishidha Potabathula. The driver, 19-year-old Luke Garrett Resecker, was found to have marijuana in his system and was attempting to pass illegally when he caused the crash. The lone survivor, Lokesh Potabathula, was left paralyzed. After conviction on multiple counts, Resecker was sentenced to 65 years in prison. The tragedy remains a painful lesson on the devastating consequences of impaired driving.