Texas Teen Sentenced to 65 Years for Crash That Killed Six Family Members After Driving High on THC
JOHNSON COUNTY, TX – A Texas teenager who was high on THC when he drove his pickup truck into oncoming traffic, killing six members of one family, has been sentenced to 65 years in prison for his role in the devastating head-on collision.
19-year-old Luke Resecker was convicted on six counts of manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and six counts of driving while intoxicated nearly two years after the fatal crash.
The Deadly Holiday Collision
The tragedy occurred on December 26, 2023, along U.S. Highway 67, when Resecker’s pickup truck crossed the double yellow line and struck a minivan carrying seven family members head-on.
Authorities said the impact killed six people instantly, leaving one survivor paralyzed from the waist down.
Among the deceased were:
- Rushil Barri, 28
- Nageswararao Ponnada, 64
- Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 60
- Naveena Potabathula, 36
- Krithik Potabathula, 10
- Nishidha Potabathula, 9
43-year-old Lokesh Potabathula survived but sustained critical injuries, losing his wife, two children, parents-in-law, and cousin in the crash.
THC Use and Reckless Driving
Investigators from the Texas Department of Public Safety found that Resecker was under the influence of THC at the time of the crash. Officers recovered THC wax, marijuana, and a vape pen from inside his pickup truck.
According to a crash report, Resecker veered into oncoming traffic after crossing the center line, continuing the wrong way until colliding with the family’s minivan.
“He was impaired, reckless, and made choices that cost six innocent lives,”
prosecutors told the jury during closing arguments.
Victims Visiting Family for the Holidays
The victims were part of two closely connected families. The Potabathulas were visiting relatives in Texas from Alpharetta, Georgia, while the Ponnadas had traveled from India for the holiday season.
Rushil Barri, a 28-year-old cousin studying in Texas, was also among the victims.
Atlanta’s WXIA-TV reported that the families had gathered for a post-Christmas visit when their van was struck head-on by Resecker’s truck.
The Survivor’s Ongoing Struggle
The lone survivor, Lokesh Potabathula, remains paralyzed from the waist down. Relatives have described his recovery as long and painful, saying he faces a lifetime of rehabilitation while mourning the loss of his family.
Family friends launched a GoFundMe campaign that raised thousands of dollars to assist with medical care and funeral expenses.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
During trial in Johnson County, jurors heard emotional testimony from the victims’ relatives and investigators who detailed Resecker’s impairment and the contents of his truck.
The jury found Resecker guilty on October 27, 2025, and sentenced him to 65 years in prison.
Authorities said Resecker’s passenger, 17-year-old Preston Glass, survived the crash but suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him mentally impaired.
Prosecutors described the sentence as a message about the consequences of impaired driving, especially among young drivers using THC and other intoxicants. The case has renewed calls in Texas for tougher enforcement and education on drug-impaired driving.
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