Six people were killed and three others severely injured in a horrific two-vehicle collision early Tuesday afternoon in Johnson County.
A 2014 Chevrolet Silverado with two occupants and a 2021 Honda Odyssey carrying seven occupants were traveling in opposite directions on two-lane Highway US-67. About 3.5 miles northeast of Nemo, Texas, the southbound Silverado allegedly entered the northbound lane in a “no passing” zone and collided head-on with the Odyssey, according to a press release from the Texas Department of Safety (TxDPS) obtained by WFAA.
The speed limit posted along that section of the highway is 70 MPH.
Only one occupant of the Odyssey, 43-year-old Lokesh Potabathula of Alpharetta, Georgia, survived the crash. He sustained critical injuries and was transported to Harris Health Hospital in Fort Worth.
The driver of the minivan, 28-year-old Rushil Barri of Irving, was killed in the crash, along with five other occupants from Alpharetta, Georgia: a 64-year-old man, a 60-year-old woman, a 9-year-old girl, a 10-year-old boy, and a 36-year-old woman. The five crash victims have not been publicly identified pending notification of next of kin.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is working with the Georgia State Police to notify family members of the deaths.
The occupants of the Silverado pickup truck, 17-year-old Luke Resecker, the driver, and his passenger, 17-year-old Preston Glass, both from Glen Rose, survived the collision but were critically injured. Glass was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth for treatment, while Resecker was taken to Harris Health Hospital.
Officials confirmed that only the drivers of the vehicles and the 36-year-old woman were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision.
Following the crash, TxDPS closed the road in both directions, reopening it hours later at about 1:00 a.m. on December 27.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office asked via social media for prayers for the families of the deceased and the injured, adding, “Also, please pray for our Deputies, Troopers and all other first responders working this accident. It’s a devastating scene and very emotional for all involved.”