Driver who killed Sealy in crash is held again on DWI

Last update: March 30, 2008 - 9:00 PM

Souksangouane Phengsene, the man convicted of and imprisoned for criminal vehicular homicide after killing Minnesota Timberwolves player Malik Sealy in a 2000 crash, has been jailed once again on suspicion of driving while under the influence.

Phengsene, 51, was in the Hennepin County jail late Sunday in lieu of bail after he was booked at 2 a.m. Sunday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. He was arrested by the State Patrol.

Lt. Mark Peterson said Sunday that no further details of Phengsene's arrest, including where he was arrested, will be released until he is formally charged later this week.

After Sealy died, Phengsene pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide. Phengsene's blood alcohol level was 0.19 percent when, driving the wrong way in the south lanes of Hwy. 100 in St. Louis Park, he slammed into Sealy's vehicle.

He was released from prison in July 2003.

In 2006 he was arrested again, this time in Crystal, with a 0.21 percent blood alcohol level. For that, he was sentenced to a year in the workhouse and six years' probation. Because Phengsene had pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide, not DWI, in Sealy's death, the earlier sentence did not enhance the one in the 2006 case.

He was also convicted of drunken driving in Des Moines in 1997.

ABBY SIMONS