Family, friends gather to honor Hunter Hale-Sorensen

GULF SHORES, Ala. (WALA) - The memorial for Hunter Hale-Sorensen, who was hit by a vehicle and killed last Sunday in Gulf Shores, was held Saturday, March 16 at Christian Life Church.

Hundreds of folks touched by Hale-Sorensen's death, including a number of Gulf Shores High students, turned out.

Jessica Wallace's family drove from Michigan, where they moved after spending three years in Gulf Shores. In those three years, her son Franklin Prutznal became best friends with Hale-Sorensen.

"I'm heartbroken. I thought they'd be lifelong friends, doing all these things they love to do together. It's sad," Wallace said.

Prutznal said he and Hale-Sorensen often spent their time at the beach and riding skateboards was one of their favorite things to do

"He was always happy. Nothing ever brought him down. No matter what anyone said, we were always in a good mood. We always did our own thing," Prutznal remembered.

Prutznal said the night he found out that Hale-Sorensen died, he couldn't sleep.

"It was just one of those things in my mind that was so unbelievable. It didn't hit me until later that night when I realized I wouldn't be able to hang out with him anymore," Prutznal said.

Hale-Sorensen was killed the afternoon of Sunday, March 10. Officials said he lost control of his skateboard descending the ramp of a parking garage in a condominium off Beach Boulevard. 

Authorities said a 47-year-old SUV driver, who couldn't stop in time, accidentally hit Hale-Sorensen.

Folks throughout Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have been in mourning since the accident.  A Facebook page entitled "R.I.P. Hunter” has been created, and a bike ride to honor him is also in the works.