Wrong Way Teen Driver kills six from the same family in Texas

Tragedy struck a Texas family, claiming the lives of six members, including two children, in a devastating accident. The incident unfolded when a 17-year-old pickup truck driver allegedly veered into the wrong lane of a two-lane highway, colliding head-on with their minivan, as reported by authorities.

The ill-fated family had been returning from a post-Christmas outing to a wildlife safari park, recounting the somber details of their last moments together on U.S. 67, approximately 50 miles southwest of Fort Worth.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) disclosed the specifics of the collision, indicating that the teen driver of a Silverado pickup, heading south, abruptly crossed into the northbound lane, impacting the family’s minivan. Notably, the DPS highlighted that the crash site was within a designated “no passing” zone.

The victims, identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety, included 28-year-old Rushil Barri; 9-year-old Nishidha Potabathula; 10-year-old Krithik Potabathula; 36-year-old Naveena Potabathula; 60-year-old Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada; and 64-year-old Nageswararao Ponnada. Shockingly, only two of the six family members were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision.

Lokesh Potabathula, aged 43, who was not wearing a seatbelt, miraculously survived the crash and was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, according to the DPS. Meanwhile, the teenage driver and his 17-year-old passenger also sustained critical injuries and were transported to a hospital.

As the investigation into the crash continues, the circumstances surrounding potential charges remain unclear. Rushil Barri’s brother, Rakesh Barri, revealed to ABC affiliate station WFAA that the family had spent the day at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Safari Park in Glenn Rose, Texas, and were on their way back to Irving, Texas, when tragedy struck. Rakesh Barri shared the heart-wrenching loss, describing his brother as “my half,” expressing the profound difficulty in comprehending such a devastating event.