Additional Coverage:
- Teen driver smirked in mugshot after killing six members of same family in horror crash (themirror.com)
CLEBURNE, TX – A Johnson County jury has handed down a 65-year prison sentence to Luke Garrett Resecker, 19, following a devastating head-on collision that claimed the lives of six members of a Georgia family. The Dec. 26, 2023, crash, which occurred on U.S. Highway 67 near Cleburne, has left one survivor paralyzed and Resecker’s passenger with a severe traumatic brain injury.
Prosecutors argued that Resecker was under the influence of marijuana when his Chevy Silverado crossed into oncoming traffic, striking a Honda Odyssey minivan. The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of Rushil Barri, 28; Naveena Potabathula, 39; Nageswararao Ponnada, 64; Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 60; Kruthik Potabathula, 10; and Nishidha Potabathula, 9.
The sole survivor from the minivan, Lokesh Potabathula, now faces life without his wife, two children, cousin, and in-laws, and is paralyzed from the waist down. Resecker’s passenger, 17-year-old Preston Glass, also sustained life-altering injuries, including a severe traumatic brain injury that has left him mentally impaired.
Evidence presented during the trial included an affidavit and toxicology report confirming the presence of THC in Resecker’s bloodstream. State troopers also discovered THC wax, a vape pen, and marijuana inside his truck at the scene.
Resecker was charged with six counts of intoxication manslaughter, two counts of intoxication assault, and additional drug possession charges in early 2024. Due to injuries sustained in the crash, he had been under monitored home confinement after posting bond.
The Potabathula family had recently moved to Alpharetta, Georgia, from Plano, Texas, and were visiting friends and family in the Lone Star state for the holidays. Rushil Barri, Potabathula’s cousin, was visiting from India and pursuing graduate studies in Irving.
Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Miller underscored the profound impact of the tragedy during her closing arguments, stating, “Justice for Rushil, Justice for Naveena, Justice for Nageswararao, Justice for Sitamahalakshmi, Justice for Kruthik, Justice for Nishidharaman, and Justice for Lokesh – and justice for this community.”
The district attorney’s office expressed gratitude to the jurors, investigators, and prosecutors for their dedication to the challenging case.