5 From Alpharetta Killed In Texas Crash, Including 2 Children: Police

JOHNSON COUNTY, TX — Six people were killed — including five from Alpharetta, two of whom were children— in a crash Tuesday in Texas, authorities said.

The deceased included Rushil Barri, 28, of Irving, Texas, according to police, as well as five Alpharetta residents, who were identified Wednesday afternoon as:

• Naveena Potabathula, 36;
• Nageswararao Ponnada, 64;
• Sitamahalakshmi Ponnada, 60;
• Krithik Potabathula, 10;
• Nishidha Potabathula, 9.

The collision occurred around 4 p.m. on U.S. Route 67 near County Road 1119 northeast of Nemo in the Dallas area, police said. A 2014 Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 17-year-old boy from Glen Rose, Texas, was traveling south when it entered the northbound lane in a no-passing area and hit head-on a 2021 Honda Odyssey that Barri was driving, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The driver of the Silverado and his passenger, also a 17-year-old boy from Glen Rose, suffered critical injuries and were transported to receive medical care, as was a 43-year-old Alpharetta man, who was a passenger in the Odyssey and who also suffered critical injuries, police said. Everyone else in the Odyssey died, according to authorities.

Police said six of the nine victims were wearing seatbelts.