Man Who Hit Sealy Had DUI in 1997

The man blamed in the crash that killed Malik Sealy of the Minnesota Timberwolves was convicted of drunk driving in Iowa in 1997, court records show.

Authorities believe Souksangouane Phengsene, 43, was driving the wrong way on Minnesota Highway 100 in St. Louis Park early Saturday morning when his truck collided head-on with Sealy’s sport utility vehicle. Sealy, 30, was dead at the scene.

Phengsene, who recently moved to Minnesota from Des Moines, Iowa, was in satisfactory condition at Hennepin County Medical Center with head and chest injuries, a hospital spokeswoman said Sunday.

It was not clear Sunday if alcohol was a factor in the crash. Cathy Clark, a spokeswoman for the State Patrol, said Saturday that a paramedic on the scene told troopers he smelled alcohol on Phengsene.

Blood samples were taken from both drivers and will be tested to determine if alcohol was in either driver’s system.

Clark said the investigation will likely take several weeks.

The Des Moines Register reported Sunday that Phengsene was charged with drunken driving in Des Moines in June 1997.

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The FBI raided the home of a Pennsylvania man just hours before the Philadelphia 76ers were eliminated from the playoffs by Indiana on Friday night, following an alleged e-mail threat against 76er star Allen Iverson and his family, a bureau spokesman said.

The sender, identified as a “Philadelphia sports hater for years,” insulted Iverson and threatened to harm “those near and dear” to him, making specific threats against his two children, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The message was sent to WIP-AM radio personality Rhea Hughes, who alerted the 76ers, who in turn called authorities.

Agents seized the man’s computer and questioned him, but made no arrests, said an FBI spokesman.