PICTURED: Six family members killed in horror wrong-way crash in Texas, as 7th fights for his life in the hosp
- Six members of the same family were killed south of Fort Worth in a December 26 head-on crash with a pickup truck driven the wrong way[1] by a 17-year-old
- The family, from Alpharetta, Georgia, had traveled to Texas for the holidays to visit their cousin Rushil Barri, 28, who was driving their minivan and was killed
- One person inside the minibus survived: Lokesh Potabathula, 43, lost his wife, two children and inlaws plus his sight, and may never walk again
New photos have emerged of the six members of a Georgia[3] family killed on Tuesday in Texas while visiting their relative for Christmas[4].
The family's minivan was hit head-on by a Chevrolet pickup truck being driven by a 17-year-old, going the wrong way[5] on the highway.
The 17-year-old driver, and his passenger, also 17, were critically injured.
But six of the seven people in the Honda Odyssey minivan were killed.
Lokesh Potabathula, 43, was the only survivor of the crash, and lost his wife, son, daughter, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and cousin Rushil Barri, 28, who was driving.
Lokesh Potabathula, 43, (at the back, yellow t-shirt) 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 Honda Odyssey home from a day out at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center on December 26
Barri had taken his relatives to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center and was driving home to Irving, Texas when the crash happened, south of Fort Worth on the U.S. 67 in Johnson County.[6]
Barri moved to the U.S. from India[7] in August 2020 and settled in Texas: the other family members lived in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Potabathula remains in critical condition in hospital. He has lost his sight in the accident, 11Alive [8]reported, and may never walk again.
He is in 'critical condition undergoing multiple surgeries as he had a deep intestinal injury, several fractures all over his body including spine, ribs, and limbs,' according to a GoFundMe page set up to support him, which has raised more than $250,000.
He lost his wife Naveena Potabathula, 36; her parents Nageswararao Ponnada, 64; and Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 60; and his children, Krithik Potabathula, 10, and Nishidha Potabathula, 9, in addition to his cousin.
Barri, 28, had moved to Texas from India in August 2020. He was killed on Tuesday in a head-on car crash, when a pickup truck traveling the wrong way smashed into his car
The two severely damaged vehicles - a Honda Odyssey and a Chevrolet pickup truck - are seen following Tuesday's crash on the U.S. 67 in Johnson County
The accident happened at 4pm on Tuesday, as the family was returning from a day at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
Ambulances and fire trucks are pictured on the scene of Tuesday's crash
Ayyappala Bandaru (left), Barri's roommate, said they were 'like brothers' and praised his friend's ambition
Barri's roommate Ayyappala Bandaru told NBC News [9]that at 4:01pm on Tuesday 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.'
Sergeant William Lockridge of Texas department of public safety said it was unclear why the 17-year-old was driving the wrong way.
'For an unknown reason at this time, the Chevrolet pickup truck traveled into the northbound lane and struck the Honda Odyssey head-on,' he said.
References
- ^ head-on crash with a pickup truck driven the wrong way (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Harriet Alexander For Dailymail.com (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Georgia (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Christmas (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ hit head-on by a Chevrolet pickup truck being driven by a 17-year-old, going the wrong way (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Texas (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ India (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ 11Alive (www.11alive.com)
- ^ NBC News (www.nbcdfw.com)