St. Louis Park, Minnesota - Steven Frane Bailey, a 56-year-old resident of St. Louis Park, has been charged with multiple counts in the devastating Park Tavern patio crash that resulted in the loss of two lives. Facing charges of two counts of criminal vehicular homicide and nine counts of criminal vehicular operation, Bailey allegedly had a preliminary blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.325, four times the legal limit in Minnesota.

According to charging documents, the incident occurred when Bailey attempted to back his Gray BMW X5 into an open parking spot but instead collided with a parked vehicle. Disastrously, he then proceeded to drive south through the parking lot towards the patio, crashing into an oncoming SUV. As per the charges, Bailey accelerated to speeds between 30 to 45 mph and forcefully plowed through a metal fence surrounding the patio area, tragically striking several individuals.

Upon arrival at the scene, officers heard Bailey on the phone, expressing his remorseful realization of the situation. "I hit the gas instead of the brake and went right through a thing," he allegedly said. Unfortunately, 30-year-old Kristina Folkerts, a Park Tavern employee and a mother of three, was fatally pinned under Bailey's car and succumbed to her injuries. The second victim, Gabe Harvey, an employee at Methodist Hospital, was celebrating a colleague's last day before commencing anesthetist school. Tragically, their celebration was cut short by this senseless incident.

The crash also caused injuries to nine others, who sustained a range of injuries including broken legs, head trauma, lacerations, and bruises. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty expressed her condolences during a press conference, acknowledging that what was supposed to be a joyous holiday weekend had transformed into a heart-wrenching tragedy.

Of further concern was the presence of several children at the scene who had recently left the area to go bowling. In response, the county attorney's office will file a Blakely notice, seeking a stiffer penalty for Bailey due to the presence of minors. Moriarty emphasized the importance of accountability and stated, "Nothing can change what happened on Sunday night, but we can and will hold people accountable."

Bailey, with five prior DUI convictions, possessed a valid driver's license at the time of the crash. Moriarty highlighted the gravity of his decision to operate a vehicle while allegedly being over four times the legal limit. She asked, "How would you feel if you had to live the rest of your life knowing that you took somebody's life and left their children without a mother?"

Bailey is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. He is currently being held in jail with a bail set at $1 million. In the wake of this tragedy, mourners, including family, friends, and strangers, have gathered at Park Tavern to pay their respects. Owner Phil Weber expressed his shock and grief, stating, "This is just horrific. I mean, nobody can even believe this is what happened."

Park Tavern will reopen for business with a soft reopening on Wednesday. Prior to the public reopening, grief counselors will be available on-site to provide support to employees coping with the loss of their colleague. Methodist Hospital will also be hosting a special event for its employees.

In a heartwarming display of solidarity, online fundraisers have been established to support the surviving victims and the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident.