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, which took place on U.S. Highway 67 on Tuesday afternoon, December 26, 2023, involved a head-on collision between a Honda Odyssey minivan and a pickup truck. The truck was driving south and entered the northbound lane in a no-passing zone. This section of the highway is frequently congested, particularly during peak traffic times. The collision was characterized by its severe impact, leading to instant fatalities and grave injuries.
The Honda Odyssey was transporting a family based in Alpharetta, Georgia, who were on their way back from holiday celebrations in Texas. The deceased were identified as Nageshwara Rao Ponnada, 64, his wife Seetha Mahalakshmi, 60, their daughter Naveena Potabathula, 36, and two grandchildren, Kruthik, 10, and Nishidha, 9. The minivan’s lone survivor, Lokesh Potabathula, who is Nageshwara Rao’s son-in-law, sustained critical injuries. The Ponnadas were visiting from India.
In the pickup truck were two 17-year-olds, Luke Resecker and Preston Glass, who both survived the crash with serious injuries and were subsequently airlifted to hospitals in the Fort Worth area for immediate medical attention.
Rushil Barri, 28, Lokesh’s cousin from Irving, Texas, was driving the minivan and was among those who perished in the crash.
Following the accident, U.S. Highway 67 was temporarily closed to facilitate emergency response efforts and to allow for a preliminary investigation. The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office are collaboratively conducting a detailed investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the crash.
The accident has profoundly impacted both the local and the Indian-American communities, particularly considering the family’s heritage. The Telugu Association of North America, along with other community groups, is actively involved in providing support for the repatriation of the victims’ remains to India.
