JOHNSON COUNTY, Texas — Nearly two years after a tragic head-on collision 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 sentencing follows a week-long trial where prosecutors argued that Resecker was under the influence of marijuana when his Chevy Silverado veered into oncoming traffic on U.S. Highway 67 near County Road 1119 outside Cleburne on December 26, 2023.
Resecker’s truck collided head-on with a Honda Odyssey minivan, killing six of the seven occupants inside. Those who lost their lives were Rushil Barri (28), Naveena Potabathula (39), Nageswararao Ponnada (64), Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada (60), Kruthik Potabathula (10), and Nishidha Potabathula (9).
The sole survivor, Lokesh Potabathula, lost his wife, two children, cousin, and in-laws. He survived the crash but was left paralyzed from the waist down.
Resecker’s passenger, 17-year-old Preston Glass, also suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, leaving him permanently impaired.
Investigators said THC was present in Resecker’s system, and troopers discovered THC wax, a vape pen, and marijuana in his vehicle.
At the time charges were filed in early 2024, Resecker faced six counts of intoxication manslaughter, two counts of intoxication assault, and drug possession. Following the crash, he was released on bond and placed on monitored home confinement due to his own injuries.
The case drew national attention due to the devastating impact on a single family that had only recently moved from Plano, Texas, to Alpharetta, Georgia.
