JOHNSON COUNTY, Texas – Nearly two years after a devastating head-on crash that killed six members of a visiting Georgia family, a Johnson County jury has sentenced 19-year-old Luke Garrett Resecker to 65 years in prison.

The fatal crash and victims

What we know:

The verdict follows a week-long trial in which prosecutors said Resecker was under the influence of marijuana when he crossed into oncoming traffic on U.S. Highway 67 near County Road 1119 outside Cleburne on December 26, 2023.

Resecker’s Chevy Silverado collided head-on with a Honda Odyssey minivan, killing six of the seven occupants inside.

Those killed were 28-year-old Rushil Barri, 39-year-old Naveena Potabathula, 64-year-old Nageswararao Ponnada, 60-year-old Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 10-year-old Kruthik Potabathula and 9-year-old Nishidha Potabathula.

The lone survivor from the minivan, Lokesh Potabathula, lost his wife, two children, cousin and in-laws in the crash. He survived but was left paralyzed from the waist down.

Resecker’s passenger, 17-year-old Preston Glass, suffered a severe traumatic brain injury that left him mentally impaired. 

Marijuana found in truck

Dig deeper:

Potabathula’s family had recently moved from Plano to Alpharetta, Georgia, returning to North Texas to visit friends over the holidays. Barri, his cousin, had moved from India for graduate studies and was living and working in Irving.

An affidavit and toxicology report showed that THC was present in Resecker’s system at the time of the crash. Troopers also found THC wax, a vape pen, and marijuana inside his truck.

When charges were first filed in early 2024, Resecker faced six counts of intoxication manslaughter, two counts of intoxication assault, and drug-possession charges. Due to injuries from the crash, he was placed on monitored home confinement after posting bond.

Trial and sentencing

Local perspective:

During closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Miller invoked each victim’s name, saying:

“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 thanked jurors, investigators, and prosecutors for their dedication, calling the case “by no means an easy one.”

The jury ultimately sentenced Resecker to 65 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

A message on reckless driving

What’s next:

The Johnson and Somervell Counties District Attorney’s Office said the case stands as a sobering reminder of the irreversible consequences of impaired and reckless driving.

Assistant District Attorneys Connor Day and Stephanie Miller prosecuted the case.