Texas head-on crash: Details emerge in wreck that killed 6, injured 3
Tuesday afternoon, a head-on crash on a Texas highway took the lives of six people and sent three more to the hospital.
The Texas Department of Public Safety released details throughout Wednesday as it located the passengers' next-of-kin.
As of Thursday, the picture of what might of happened and who was involved has begun to emerge. In a Wednesday evening release, the Texas DPS thanked the the Indian Consulate, the India Association of North Texas, and other local police departments for their help in locating the families.
Here is what we know about the two-car crash in Johnson County, Texas.
Where did the crash occur?
Near Nemo, Texas, approximately 50 miles southwest of the Dallas, Fort Worth area.
The crash occurred on highway U.S. 67 near the intersection with CR 1119. The location of the incident is within Johnson County.
When did the crash happen?
Dec. 26, 2023 at 4 p.m.
How did the crash happen?
Investigators from the Johnson County DPS crash team believe that a Chevrolet Silverado truck was traveling southbound on U.S. 67 and a Honda Odyssey van was traveling northbound on the same road, where the posted speed limit is 70 mph.
The truck entered the northbound lane in a no-passing zone and struck the van head-on, according to the Texas DPS release.
"This caused heavy damage to both vehicles," the release states.
Only two people in the van were wearing seatbelts, according to the release. One of the two passengers in the truck was wearing his seatbelt, officials said.
Who survived the crash?
- Luke Resecker, 17-year-old male of Glen Rose, Texas - Driver of the truck
- Preston Glass, 17-year-old male of Glen Rose, Texas - Passenger in the truck
- Lokesh Potabathula, 43-year-old male of Alpharetta, Georgia - Passenger in the van
All three were transported to hospitals in the Fort Worth area with critical injuries. Officials had not released an update on their condition as of Thursday morning.
Who died in the crash?
- Nageswararao Ponnada, 64-year-old male of Alpharetta, Georgia - Passenger in the van
- Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 60-year-old female of Alpharetta, Georgia - Passenger in the van
- Naveena Potabathula, 36-year-old female of Alpharetta, Georgia - Passenger in the van
- Rushil Barri, 28-year-old male of Irving, TX - Driver of the van
- Krithik Potabathula, 10-year-old male of Alpharetta, Georgia - Passenger in the van
- Nishidha Potabathula, 9-year-old female of Alpharetta, Georgia - Passenger in the van
The van's sole survivor lost his wife and two kids. The Ponnadas were Naveena Potabathula's parents. According to The Economic Times, the parents were visiting their daughter and grandchildren from India.