Grinning Texas teen charged with intoxication manslaughter after 'killing family of six in wrong-way crash while high at Christmas'

A Texas teenager is accused of driving under the influence when he allegedly drove head-first into oncoming traffic, killing a family-of-six the day after Christmas. 

Luke Garrett Resecker, 18, grinned in a new mugshot image as he was arraigned on six counts of intoxication manslaughter, as investigators say he was under the influence of THC - the active ingredient in marijuana - at the time. 

He is also charged with intoxication assault, possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana, according to Law and Crime. 

The horror crash led to the deaths of Rushil Barri, 28; Nageswararao Ponnada, 64; Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 60; Naveena Potabathula, 36; Krithik Potabathula, 10; and Nishidha Potabathula, 9. 

A seventh victim, Lokesh Potabuthala, 43, suffered severe injuries but survived the tragedy. The family, originally from India, were visiting relatives in Texas.

Luke Garrett Resecker, 18, grinned in a new mugshot image as he was arraigned on six counts of intoxication manslaughter over a December 26 crash that killed a family-of-six 

Lokesh Potabathula, 43, (at the back, yellow T-shirt) was the sole survivor of the crash. He lost his wife Naveena Potabathula, 36 (second right); her parents Nageswararao Ponnada, 64 (second left); and Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 60 (front); and his children, Krithik Potabathula, 10 (far right), and Nishidha Potabathula, 9 (far left), in addition to his cousin

Rushil Barri, 28, was driving the family in his Honda Odyssey home from a day out at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center when they were struck and killed in a head-on collision 

Resecker was allegedly driving under the influence of THC when his white Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck veered into oncoming traffic and collided with the family's minivan 

When the crash unfolded on December 26, 2023, Resecker was driving with a friend along US 67 in his white Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, and cops said they found marijuana and a marijuana vape pen inside the vehicle. 

A blood test also reportedly tested positive for THC.  

He allegedly veered over the double yellow line of an undivided highway, before colliding head-on with the family's Honda Odyssey minivan.

The family tried to swerve out of his path, but were unable to get out of the way in time before they plowed into each other on the highway. 

Resecker's passenger was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt at the time, but survived the crash and was airlifted to hospital. 

The minivan's lone survivor Lokesh Potabuthala was also reportedly not wearing a seatbelt, but no passengers were ejected from either vehicle.

Helicopter rescue teams airlifted the survivors to nearby hospitals, including Resecker and he was initially listed in critical condition. 

Because of the 18-year-old's injuries, a spokesperson for the Public Safety Department told the Dallas Morning News that he was deemed to be not 'medically fit' to be detained in jail. 

The horror crash almost wiped out the family-of-seven in the crash, with victims including two children: Krithik Potabathula, 10; and Nishidha Potabathula, 9 

The family were said to have been visiting family in Texas at the time, and were returning from a day trip to a wildlife center when they lost their lives 

Barri, 28, had moved to Texas from India in August 2020. The other family members lived in Alpharetta, Georgia 

This led a judge to place him under house arrest and order he be fitted with a GPS monitor, and he later posted a $50,000 bond to remain confined to his home and avoid jail. 

The surviving member of the family lost his wife, son daughter, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and cousin. At the time, 11Alive reported that he had lost his sight in the crash, and may never walk again.

According to a GoFundMe from the time, he was hospitalized in 'critical condition undergoing multiple surgeries as he had a deep intestinal injury, several fractures all over his body including spine, ribs, and limbs.' 

His cousin, Rushil Barri, 28, was driving the minivan at the time, and the family were returning from a trip to the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. 

Barri moved to the U.S. from India in August 2020 and settled in Texas: the other family members lived in Alpharetta, Georgia.

The surviving member of the family lost his wife, son daughter, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and cousin, and suffered severe injuries including a deep intestinal injury, and several fractures all over his body including spine, ribs, and limbs 

The two severely damaged vehicles - a Honda Odyssey and a Chevrolet pickup truck - are seen following the crash on the U.S. 67 in Johnson County, Texas 

Speaking to NBC News after the crash, Barri's roommate Ayyappala Bandaru said that at 4:01pm, a message was sent from his friend's iPhone, saying the phone registered a crash. 

'We were in shock like what just happened,' said Bandaru. 

'We tried reaching everyone in the car and no one is picking up.'

He said Barri was ambitious and driven.

'We were like brothers,' Bandaru said. 'He's actually like my brother over here.

'He had very big dreams. He always used to think about tomorrow. He used to be like 'Man, we need to rule this world.'

'We came here with a lot of struggles.'