Steven Frane Bailey is facing 11 counts related to Sunday’s tragic crash at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park, Minn., that left two dead and several others injured on an outdoor patio this past Labor Day holiday weekend.
Bailey, 59, had a BAC of .325, according to charges filed in Hennepin County District Court on Tuesday; that’s over four times the legal limit of .08 to be behind the wheel in Minnesota.
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More from St. Louis Park where a vehicle plowed into a patio crowd at Park Tavern. At least two reported to be deceased and several injured. pic.twitter.com/uEzHTFG48M— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) September 2, 2024
According to facts in the complaint and revealed during a press conference held by Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty on Tuesday, a total of 11 people were injured, including two who died. Some of the survivors were seriously injured, including one female victim who sustained broken legs, a broken pelvis, broken ribs, and dislocated knees. Two other victims sustained head injuries, and another had “serious road rash” and skin that was torn off. The remaining victims had bruises or other minor injuries directly from the crash or from being struck by objects during the crash.
Bailey, who has a history of DWI convictions—up to five, according to information stated by one reporter at the press conference—was briefly evaluated by medics before being booked into custody.
The criminal complaint describes that when police arrived, they found a BMW X5 up against some large boulders on the south side of the bar’s patio, along with broken tables and chairs and debris on the patio. Five victims were initially found and were being treated. Park Tavern server Kristina Folkerts was found pinned under the BMW and was pronounced dead at the scene. Folkerts leaves behind three children, according to a memorial GoFundMe page set up by Park Tavern for her survivors.
Gabe Harvey was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Harvey was employed at Methodist Hospital along with several of the other injured parties who had been at the bar celebrating with co-workers, according to a memorial GoFundMe page for Harvey.
Bailey was heard by officers saying, “I’m f-cked,” and “I hit the gas instead of the brake and went right through a thing.”
Surveillance video was reviewed by police that showed Bailey pull into the parking lot and past an open parking spot, which he then attempted to back into, the complaint states. Bailey struck a parked vehicle, then pulled out and struck another oncoming vehicle in another area of the parking lot. Bailey then rapidly accelerated and “plowed through” a metal fence surrounding the patio and into the seating area, striking several people. Bailey continued to accelerate through the patio area, reaching speeds of 30-45 mph, finally coming to an “abrupt and violent halt” when he struck the boulders.
Field sobriety tests were performed on Bailey, as well as a preliminary breath sample that resulted in a BAC of .325. A blood draw was executed by warrant at Hennepin Healthcare (HCMC), and the results of that test are pending.
When officers explained to Bailey that he was being booked on criminal vehicular homicide, he responded, “you got to be kidding me” and “my life’s pretty much f-cked now, isn’t it?”
Bailey has been charged with two felony counts of criminal vehicular homicide and nine counts of criminal vehicular operation, four of them felony level and five are gross misdemeanor level.
Moriarty explained during her press conference that her office intends to seek aggravated sentencing due to the presence of children at the scene. She also said that some of the sentencing details, if Bailey is convicted, will be dependent on the long-term outcome of injuries and whether any more victims come forward.
Bailey is scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon and is being held on $1 million bail.
The City of St. Louis Park and its police department issued a statement on Tuesday acknowledging the impact of the incident to the community and extended condolences to the victims and their families and to witnesses who were present.
They stated that the incident continues to be investigated and encouraged anyone with information, photos or videos of the incident to contact the police department at 952.924.2165 or submit information online at https://bit.ly/parktavernvehicleincident.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
