US Teen Sentenced 65 Years for Crash Killing Indian-Origin Family

A Texas teen, Luke Garrett Resecker, has been sentenced to 65 years in prison for causing a tragic crash in 2023 that claimed the lives of six members of an Indian-origin family. At the time of the incident, Resecker was 17 years old and under the influence of THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, authorities confirmed.

The fatal collision occurred on December 26, 2023, around 4:00 pm on US Highway 67 near County Road 1119, south of Cleburne, Texas. The victims, returning from a family outing at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, were traveling in a Honda Odyssey minivan when Resecker’s Chevy Silverado swerved into their lane.

Six of the seven passengers in the minivan died instantly, including Rushil Barri (28) of Irving, and five relatives from Georgia: Naveena Potabathula (36), Nageswararao Ponnada (64), Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada (60), 10-year-old Krithik Potabathula, and 9-year-old Nishidha Potabathula. The sole survivor, Lokesh Potabathula, sustained paralysis from the waist down after losing his wife, children, cousin, and in-laws in the crash.

Resecker’s 17-year-old passenger, Preston Glass, suffered severe traumatic brain injury, leaving him mentally impaired. Investigators recovered THC wax, a vape pen, and marijuana from Resecker’s truck. Toxicology confirmed active THC in his system during the crash.

During the Johnson County trial, prosecutors highlighted that the crash was entirely preventable, emphasizing the dangers of impaired driving. Assistant District Attorneys Connor Day and Stephanie Miller called it a sobering reminder of the irreversible consequences of reckless behavior behind the wheel.

In closing arguments, Miller invoked the names of each victim, stating, “Justice for Rushil, Justice for Naveena, Justice for Nageswararao, Justice for Sitamahalakshmi, Justice for Krithik, Justice for Nishidha, and Justice for Lokesh and justice for this community.”

Resecker faced multiple charges, including intoxication manslaughter, intoxication assault, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana. The sentencing has been seen as a significant step in ensuring accountability for one of the deadliest traffic tragedies involving impaired driving in the region.

This case underscores the lethal consequences of drug-impaired driving, serving as a warning to teenagers and drivers nationwide about the risks of driving under the influence.