(WBIR - Blount County) - A crash in Blount County on Highway 411 killed six people Thursday night, including five members of a single family.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, an Isuzu Rodeo SUV driven by Robert Sorenson, 56, of Maryville, was traveling north on US Highway 411 and crossed over into the southbound lane, hitting a minivan head-on with eight people inside.
It happened around 10:15 p.m. Thursday, near Springview Baptist Church, about 1.5 miles past the exit for Highway 129.
The driver of the van, Tammy James Hancock, 52, and her daughter, Christy Manuel, 30, were killed in the crash, along with Manuel's three children: Cody Manuel, 13, Christopher Manuel, 8, and Gavin Manuel, 18 months.
Gary Manuel, 32, survived the accident, he was taken to UT Medical Center, along with two of the children: Gary Manuel, 11, and Cory Manuel, 9. UT Medical Center can release no information on their current conditions, but a family member tells 10News they are expected to survive their injuries.
According to the THP fatality report, none of the older children were wearing seatbelts, and the trooper believed that would have made a difference in the crash. The report indicates that the toddler was in a car seat, but it wasn't properly used.
The older children attended Greenback School, and the principal told 10News he had called in grief counselors.
Friends of the family set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money for funeral expenses.
Records from the Blount County Sheriff's Office indicated that Sorensen, the driver of the other vehicle, had at least three DUI arrests with their department.
"It's terrible for first responders, it's terrible for everybody. These things, you know loss of life is so precious, and when you lose so much in one setting it's almost compounding," said Lt. Don Boshears. "I really don't know that I can explain it. We have adults and children who have both lost their lives and it's very, very tragic."
This is not the first time a fatal crash has happened along this stretch of Highway 411. Last year, a Tellico Plains woman died after a speeding car lost control and hit her. Lola Walker was 72. The other driver, Jason Dyer, is facing several charges, including vehicular homicide.
Back in 2012, a head-on collision in the same area of highway resulted in a new state law. John Perkins hit and killed Amelia Keown, 16, when he crossed the center line while driving high on drugs. Perkins later died from his injuries. Amelia's family lobbied to create a law that allows a judge to order people convicted of drug or alcohol related crimes to wear a device that will allow authorities to track drug use.
This strip of highway has also seen a handful of other fatal crashes over the years. It has developed a reputation as being a dangerous area, despite being a wide open, four lane highway.
"A friend of mine's daughter drives here and she won't drive it anymore. She uses the backroads," said Bucky Colclough, a man who uses this highway on a regular basis.
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(WBIR - BLOUNT COUNTY) - Five people were killed in a multi-vehicle crash in Blount County near Springview Baptist Church on US Highway 411, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Emergency crews are on the scene of the crash, reported after 10 p.m., according to Blount County dispatchers.
There may be other injuries.
The names of the victims have not been released.
Highway 411 has been shut down in both directions, according to the THP's Lt. Bill Miller. TDOT spokesman Mark Nagi said Thursday night that the road would likely be shut down all night as authorities reconstruct what happened.
This is a breaking story. More details as they develop.
