iNDICA NEWS BUREAU–
Six members of an Indian-origin family were killed in Texas when their minivan was struck head-on by a pickup truck driven by a teenager that veered to the wrong side of the highway. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said that in the crash on Wednesday, one person in the minivan survived as did the teenager and a companion in the other vehicle that crossed over in a no-overtaking zone, media reported.
The driver of the minivan was identified by the DPS as Rushil Barri, 28, from Irving, Texas, while the others travelling with him were visiting from Alpharetta, Georgia. According to the DPS, the others killed were Naveena Potabathula, 36, Nageswararao Ponnada, 64, Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 60, Krithik Potabathula, 10, Nishidha Potabathula, 9. Barri’s causing, Lokesh Potabathula, 43, who survived the crash was hospitalised in critical condition, the DPS said.
The driver of the truck and the other teenager in it were hospitalised with severe injuries and police have not been able to interview them, Fox4 reported. “This was a no passing zone,” DPS Sergeant William Lockridge was quoted by Fox4 TV in Dallas. “We don’t know what caused the vehicle to cross into the northbound lane.”
The portion of the highway where the accident happened had a speed limit of 70 mph (112 kph). According to Fox4, among those killed were Lokesh Potabathula’s wife and children, parents-in-law, and cousin Barri.
Ashok Kolla of the Telugu Association of North America told the station, “Right now, we are authorised by both the families to send the human remains to India” and “we want to do it as soon as possible in the next 24-36 hours.”
Rakesh Barri told ABC8 TV in Dallas that his brother Rushil had spent the day with his relatives in the Fossil Rim Wildlife Safari Park in Glenn Rose, Texas, and were on their way to his home. The Ponnadas were on visit from India. Rakesh Barri told the station that his mother could not come to terms with his brother’s death.
He said that his mother maintains, “He is still alive. I’m praying to the God, he will be back with you. You will be back with him to India.”
Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported: Family and friends of the 28-year-old Irving man who was killed in a “devastating” two-vehicle crash in Johnson County on Tuesday said he came to the United States from India to earn his master’s degree and had big plans for his life. “He had very big dreams,” Rushil Barri’s friend Ayyappala Bandaru told KXAS-TV. “He always used to think about tomorrow. He used to be like ‘Man, we need to rule this world.’”
