Man Charged After Crashing Through Outdoor Patio, Killing 2
Submitted
Photo via Hennepin County Jail
Formal criminal charges have been filed against Steven Frane Bailey, 56, following a deadly crash at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park Sunday evening.
Bailey is accused of driving his vehicle into a crowded patio, killing a waitress and a hospital ICU worker, and causing multiple injuries.
According to the criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court on Tuesday, Bailey, while allegedly under the influence of alcohol, drove a gray BMW X5 through a metal fence surrounding the Park Tavern patio, striking several patrons. The vehicle continued moving through the seating area before coming to a stop against large boulders.
The criminal complaint states that officers approached Bailey’s vehicle and heard him on the phone with an unknown person. Officers heard Bailey say, “I’m f***ed.” He was also heard on the phone saying, “I hit the gas instead of the brake and went right through a thing” and “I’m probably going to jail.” As Bailey exited the vehicle, he was unsteady on his feet and fell to his knees. Bailey made several spontaneous statements after being removed from the car, including “well I already know. I already know.” When officers told Bailey they were going to perform field sobriety tests, he responded “you don’t need to do fields. I know what I did.”
Bailey’s preliminary breath test indicated a blood alcohol concentration of .325, more than four times above the legal limit. A search warrant was executed to obtain a blood sample for further testing. Surveillance footage from the scene showed Bailey initially hitting a parked car and then accelerating rapidly through the patio area, reaching estimated speeds between 30 to 45 mph.
Bailey now faces eleven criminal counts, including two felony counts of criminal vehicular homicide. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty stated her office intends to seek aggravated sentencing in the case.
Additional charges include one felony count of criminal vehicular operation causing great bodily harm, three felony counts of criminal vehicular operation causing substantial bodily harm, and five gross misdemeanor counts of criminal vehicular operation causing bodily harm, all while operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. The criminal complaint states that additional injuries were identified during the crash investigation resulting in additional charges. Five victims were identified through GoFundMe’s that have been started by friends and families of the victims.
One GoFundMe account identifies Kristina Folkerts as one of the victims who died, saying she was a "loving mother of 3 young girls and friend to many in the community."
Another GoFundMe account is for Gabe Harvey, the second victim killed. He was a Health Unit Coordinator at Methodist Hospital and described as someone who "always had a smile and a kind word for everyone" and "left an impression on everyone he met." According to the criminal complaint, Harvey was transported to Hennepin Healthcare where he was pronounced deceased.
Laura Knutson was one of the victims identified in a GoFundMe page. Knutson was an ICU nurse at Methodist Hospital. She was out celebrating her last shift before starting CRNA school this week. The GoFundMe says, “Laura is a brilliant and funny ICU nurse who goes above and beyond for her patients, friends, and family.” The criminal complaint says Knutson suffered head trauma and lost consciousness while being brought to the hospital by paramedics.
Tegan D'Albani is one of the victims seriously hurt. Her GoFundMe says she was celebrating her friend Laura's last shift as a nurse at Methodist Hospital before she started CRNA school. The criminal complaint says D'Albani suffered extensive fractures throughout her body and remains intubated.
Theo Larson is another victim seriously injured while out celebrating Laura's last shift. Larson is also an employee at Methodist Hospital. The GoFundMe states Larson suffered multiple skull fractures, facial fractures, and orbital fractures. He is recently married.
A total of six other victims were noted in the criminal complaint, with injuries ranging from serious road rash and bruises to minor injuries from being hit by an object during the collision.
Bailey has two prior DWI convictions from 2014 and 2015. Following his arrest, Bailey remains in custody on $1 million bail.
Bailey is scheduled to make an initial court appearance Wednesday morning.
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