Tragedy struck Johnson County this week as a head-on car crash claimed the lives of six family members, with another critically injured, according to officials. The collision, which occurred on US-67 near County Road 1119, involved a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2021 Honda Odyssey. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported that the driver of the Silverado entered the northbound lane unlawfully and collided with the Odyssey, which was being driven by 28-year-old Rushil Barri of Irving.
The catastrophic event resulted in the death of Rushil Barri and five other occupants of the Honda Odyssey, as per a statement obtained by KENS 5. The victims included a 36-year-old woman, a 64-year-old man, a 60-year-old woman, and two children, ages 9 and 10, all from Alpharetta, Georgia. The sole survivor from Barri's vehicle, Lokesh Potabathula, is reportedly fighting for his life in critical condition at Harris Health Hospital in Fort Worth.
Meanwhile, the occupants of the Silverado, 17-year-olds Luke Resecker and Preston Glass of Glen Rose, are also in critical condition following the crash. Resecker was airlifted to Harris Health Hospital in Fort Worth, and Glass was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. The DPS, which is still investigating the incident, noted that only three people were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision, including the Silverado's driver, Barri, and the 36-year-old woman from the Odyssey.
As the community reels from the shock, Ayyappala Bandaru, Barri's roommate, recalls Barri's forward-looking nature and commitment to family in a heart-wrenching interview with KENS 5. Rakesh Barri, Rushil's brother, expressed his grief, saying, "He’s my half. He’s my half." Bandaru and Rakesh are coordinating with the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) to send the remains of Barri and his family back to India for final rituals, as shared by Ashok Kolla, a representative of TANA.
In the wake of the tragedy, friends of the deceased have initiated a GoFundMe campaign to aid with the medical and funeral expenses. The fundraiser aims to provide support for the surviving family and ensure that Lokesh, who clings to life, is not alone during his recovery. The Embassy of India has been involved in the discussions on transporting the bodies back to their homeland, signifying a transnational effort in the face of a calamitous event that has ripped through the very fabric of a family.
