Robert Lee Sorensen Blount County TN SO DUI fatal 3 prior DUI 051015
From WBIR
KNOXVILLE, TENN. 05/10/2015 — A Maryville man investigators say is responsible for a crash that led to the deaths of six people including himself Thursday night has a history of DUI-related arrests that date back to 2002, records show.
Robert Lee Sorensen, 56, died after the Isuzu Rodeo SUV he was driving northbound crossed into the southbound lane of US Highway 411 and hit, head-on, a minivan with eight people inside.
The crash, which happened around 10:15 p.m. near Springview Baptist Church, killed Tammy James Hancock, 52, her daughter, Christy Manuel, 30, along with Manuel’s three children: Cody Manuel, 12, Christopher Manuel, 8, and Gavin Manuel, 18 months.
Gary Manuel, 32, and two other children, Gary Manuel, 12, and Cory Manuel, 9, survived.
Galina Sorensen, Sorensen’s wife, told 10News she was “terribly sorry about their loss.”
She added Sorensen was a “very nice man.” She learned about the crash Thursday night when authorities came to inform her, she said.
Jail records WBIR 10News obtained from the Blount County Sheriff’s Office on Friday afternoon show that deputies charged Sorensen with driving under the influence on Nov. 29, 2002. He was released on a $1,000 bond, and in August the following year, he served two days in connection with the charge. ….MORE
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