A tragic highway collision in Johnson County, Texas, has resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including five members of a family from Andhra Pradesh, India, and left three others critically injured.
The incident occurred on U.S. Highway 67 on Tuesday afternoon, December 26, 2023. This stretch of highway is known for its busy traffic, especially during rush hours.
The head-on collision involved a Honda Odyssey minivan and a pickup truck. The impact was severe, causing immediate fatalities and critical injuries.
The minivan was carrying a family living in Alpharetta, Georgia, who were returning from Christmas celebrations in Texas.
The deceased included Nageshwara Rao Ponnada, 64, his wife Seetha Mahalakshmi Ponnada, 60, their daughter Naveena Potabathula, 36, and two grandchildren, Kruthik, 10, and Nishita, 9. The driver of the minivan, who also died in the crash, was identified as a cousin, 28-year-old Rushil Barri of Irving. Nageshwara Rao’s son-in-law Lokesh Potabathula, 43, the sole survivor from the minivan, sustained critical injuries. The Ponnadas were visiting from India.
The pickup truck involved in the crash was going the wrong way on the highway and had two 17-year-old occupants who survived with critical injuries. The driver, Luke Resecker, and passenger Preston Glass, were airlifted to Fort Worth-area hospitals for urgent medical care.
Following the accident, U.S. Highway 67 was closed for several hours to allow emergency services to manage the scene and for investigators to conduct their initial examination. The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office are leading a thorough investigation to determine the cause of this tragic crash.
The incident has deeply affected the local community and the Indian-American community, given the family’s origin. The Telugu Association of North America and other community members are providing necessary assistance to repatriate the bodies to India.
