Tennessee Highway Patrol says 6 killed in head-on crash


              A vehicle is towed away after an accident on U.S. Highway 411 South near Maryville, Tenn., late Thursday, May 7, 2015.  Six people, including three children, have been killed in a crash in eastern Tennessee, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said.  (Daryl Sullivan /The Daily Times via AP)
A vehicle is towed away after an accident on U.S. Highway 411 South near Maryville, Tenn., late Thursday, May 7, 2015. Six people, including three children, have been killed in a crash in eastern Tennessee, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said. (Daryl Sullivan /The Daily Times via AP)

MARYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Highway Patrol has identified the six people, including three children, who died in a crash in eastern Tennessee.

Lt. Bill Miller says the wreck happened Thursday night when a sport utility vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic on U.S. 411 South in Blount County and crashed head-on into a minivan carrying eight people.

Police said the driver of the vehicle that crossed over the lanes was killed and identified him as 56-year-old Robert Sorenson Jr. of Maryville.

A news release said those killed in the minivan were 52-year-old driver Tammy James and four passengers: 30-year-old Christy Manuel, 13-year-old Cody Manuel, 8-year-old Christopher Manuel and 1-year-old Gavin Manuel.

All were from the Greenback community, about 30 miles southwest of Knoxville.

An adult and two other children in the van were injured.

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