Teen Charged in Deadly Christmas Highway Crash Involving Family

A gavel and a block i
A gavel and a block is pictured on the judge's bench in this illustration picture taken in the Sussex County Court of Chancery in Georgetown, Delaware

CLEBURNE – An 18-year-old man faces serious charges following a devastating crash that resulted in the deaths of six family members the day after Christmas.

Luke Garrett Resecker was arraigned in Johnson County District Court on Tuesday, facing six counts of intoxication manslaughter, among other charges, after allegedly driving under the influence of THC and causing a catastrophic collision on a Texas highway.

The Texas Department of Public Safety identified the victims of the Dec. 26 tragedy as Rushil Barri, 28; Nageswararao Ponnada, 64; Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 60; Naveena Potabathula, 36; Krithik Potabathula, 10; and Nishidha Potabathula, 9. Lokesh Potabathula, 43, survived but remains in critical condition.

Evidence from the crash scene included THC wax, a vape pen, and marijuana found in Resecker’s pickup. A blood test confirmed THC presence, linking him to the accident. Initially hospitalized due to his injuries and later deemed not medically fit for jail, Resecker has since been placed under home confinement with a GPS monitor after posting a $50,000 bond.