Teen motorist's fatal left turn highlights the dangers of driving under the influence of marijuana

Seventeen-year-old Luke Reseckers Chevy Silverado collided head-on with a minivan carrying a Georgia family celebrating the holidays in Texas, resulting in the deaths of six family members on December 26, 2023. The seventh family member, Lokesh Potabathula, survived but suffered permanent paralysis. Resecker, who tested positive for THC, was recently sentenced to 65 years in prison, one of the harshest penalties in the U.S. for driving under the influence of marijuana. If he serves the full term, he will be in his mid-80s upon release.

The case has drawn nationwide attention, raising questions about whether such a long sentence is appropriate for a teenager or if it reflects the only just consequence for a crash that claimed so many lives. It also highlights the emerging legal issue of marijuana-related intoxication manslaughter in states where cannabis is increasingly legal.

The Crash and Its Aftermath

The collision occurred on a two-lane highway near Cleburne, Texas, about an hour southwest of Dallas. Prosecutors Connor Day and Stephanie Miller of the Johnson County District Attorneys Office said jurors were deeply affected by the testimony of Lokesh Potabathula, the sole survivor, who recounted the loss of his wife, two children, a cousin, and his in-laws.

Reseckers attorney, Alan Steele, argued the crash was an accident caused by a poor driving decision and that the punishment was disproportionate. He went to make a pass on the road. We had a horrible collision, people died. That is tragic, but it does not rise to criminal responsibility, Steele said.

The Family

Lokesh and Naveena Potabathula moved to the U.S. from Andhra Pradesh, India, about a decade ago seeking better opportunities. Lokesh worked for the same IT company for 20 years, and Naveena was a stay-at-home mom. Their children, Kruthik and Nishidharaman, were described as bright and sociable. The family enjoyed close bonds and often spent weekends together. Prosecutors highlighted that the victims were innocent and in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Details of the Crash

On the day of the accident, the family had visited Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. On the return trip, Resecker, driving at approximately 65 mph, crossed a double yellow line, colliding with the Potabathula minivan traveling at 75 mph. Lokesh survived but with permanent paralysis. Resecker suffered traumatic brain injuries and was hospitalized in a coma for five days. His blood contained THC levels above what is considered impairing in some states, though Texas has no set legal limit.

Reseckers Background

At the time, Resecker was 17, attending high school, and working part-time. He had experienced multiple family tragedies, including the suicides of his father and older brother. Despite this, jurors convicted him as an adult on charges including second-degree manslaughter, misdemeanor DWI, and first-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The jury acquitted him of intoxication manslaughter.

Sentence Compared to Similar Cases

Reseckers 65-year sentence is unusually severe for marijuana-related vehicular deaths. Comparable cases in New York, Indiana, California, and other states resulted in sentences ranging from 2 to 20 years. Texas Johnson County is known for high penalties, and Reseckers sentence could exceed that of other severe accidents, including a 2017 church bus crash in San Antonio, where the driver received 55 years.

Appeal and Future

Resecker is appealing the sentence and has until the end of the month to file. If the 65-year sentence stands, he will not be eligible for parole for 30 years, when he will be 49.

Reporter: Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY

Author: Sophia Brooks