In a devastating highway tragedy in Texas, six members of a family returning from a safari trip were killed in a head-on collision with a pickup truck driven by a 17-year-old. The crash, which occurred on U.S. 67 between CR 1234 and CR 1120 in Johnson County, has plunged the local community and the victims' families into mourning.
Rushil Barri, 28, was driving his family home to Irving in their Honda Odyssey following a visit to the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center when the Chevrolet pickup truck, driven by 17-year-old Luke Resecker of Glen Rose, veered into their lane. The Texas Department of Public Safety is still investigating why the truck crossed into the oncoming traffic, with initial reports suggesting it could have been an attempted overtaking or a turn gone wrong.
The collision resulted in the death of Barri, his cousin and cousin's wife, two young children, and in-laws, all originally from Alpharetta, Georgia. The names of the deceased were confirmed as Naveena Potabathula, 36, Nageswararao Ponnada, 64, Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 60, and the children, Krithik Potabathula, 10, and Nishidha Potabathula, 9. A seventh passenger, Lokesh Potabathula, 26, also from Alpharetta, Georgia, was critically injured and airlifted to a nearby hospital along with the teenage driver and his passenger, who both suffered critical injuries.
Ayyappala Bandaru, Barri's roommate, expressed his profound shock and grief to NBC News, remembering Barri as an ambitious individual with "very big dreams." "He always used to think about tomorrow. He used to be like 'Man, we need to rule this world,'" Bandaru recalled. The loss has deeply affected the close-knit community, with many struggling to come to terms with the sudden tragedy.
Sgt. William Lockridge of the Texas Department of Public Safety acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stating, "For an unknown reason at this time, the Chevrolet pickup truck traveled into the northbound lane and struck the Honda Odyssey head-on." The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working closely with the Georgia State Police to locate and notify the families of the victims.
This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the need for vigilance and safety on the road. As the community mourns the loss of the Barri family and friends, questions linger about the circumstances leading to the crash and what can be done to prevent such tragedies in the future.