ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A teenager was arraigned on several charges Tuesday in a deadly December crash that killed six members of the same Alpharetta family and left three others critically injured in Texas.
Texas Department of Transportation investigators said 18-year-old Luke Resecker faces charges of intoxication manslaughter and possession of marijuana, among others, according to a report from 11Alive's sister station WFAA in Dallas.
The fatal wreck happened after Texas Department of Public Safety official William Lockridge said the teen driving a 2014 Chevrolet pickup truck swerved into oncoming traffic, where he collided head-on with a Honda Odyssey, of which everyone inside was from Alpharetta, other than the driver, who was a cousin to the family.
Lockridge said Resecker was driving the pickup when he veered into the northbound lane on U.S. 67, in a no-passing zone, colliding with the family's minivan.
The occupants inside the vehicle were identified as Naveena Potabathula, 36, Nageswararao Ponnada, 64, Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 60, Kruthik Potabathula, 10, and Nishidha Potabathula, 9, all from Alpharetta, Georgia. Rushil Barri, who was driving the Honda minivan, was also killed in the crash.
Alpharetta resident Lokesh Potabathula was the only one who survived the crash but underwent several surgeries. He suffered a broken arm and ankles, as well as injuries to his neck and spine, which may result in him not walking again.
Resecker was arraigned Tuesday for six counts of intoxication manslaughter, two counts of intoxication assault, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana.
His bond was set at $50,000 with a restriction of monitored home confinement. Due to ongoing medical conditions, Resecker was not medically fit to be booked into the Johnson County Jail outside Dallas, Texas, officials told WFAA. Resecker posted the bond and was then released.
Officials did not say if his injuries were related to the crash. However, he was in critical condition following the wreck.