Officials have identified three people from Alpharetta, including two children, who were killed Tuesday afternoon in a head-on crash in northern Texas.
The Georgia residents were traveling in a 2021 Honda Odyssey on U.S. 67 in Johnson County, southwest of Fort Worth, when a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado tried to pass another vehicle on the two-lane highway in a no-passing zone just before 4 p.m., the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said. The Silverado and Odyssey collided head-on, resulting in heavy damage to both front ends.
The victims in the Odyssey included a 10-year-old boy, Krithik Potabathula, and a 9-year-old girl, Nishidha Potabathula, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Also killed were Naveena Potabathula (36, female) of Alpharetta and Nageswararao Ponnada (64, male) and Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada (60, female), who were visiting their family from India. The driver, 28-year-old Rushil Barri of Irving, Texas, also died.
Lokesh Potabathula, 43, was the lone survivor riding in the minivan, officials said. The Alpharetta man was taken to a Forth Worth hospital with critical injuries.
The Texas DPS thanked the Indian Consulate, the India Association of North Texas, the Georgia State Patrol and the Johns Creek Police Department for their assistance locating next of kin.
Three others were injured in the crash, including the Silverado’s 17-year-old driver and a 17-year-old passenger. Both were listed in critical condition. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is not publishing their names since they have not been charged in the crash.
The fatal wreck shut down the highway for hours. Investigators have not said how fast the vehicles were traveling, but the posted speed limit where the collision happened is 70 mph, according to the DPS.
“Please continue to pray for the families, our deputies, troopers and all first responders on scene of the tragic crash,” the sheriff’s office posted on Facebook after the wreck.
The investigation is ongoing.
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