In a tragic incident on Sunday evening, a car drove through the outdoor patio of the Park Tavern in St. Louis Park, a suburb of Minneapolis, killing two people and injuring at least four others. The group of victims were medical workers from a nearby hospital who were celebrating a colleague’s career milestone when the accident occurred.
Surveillance footage from the restaurant shows a man, who has not been identified by police, driving into the parking lot of the Park Tavern but not entering the establishment. He then maneuvered the vehicle into the outdoor patio area, where a gathering of about 30 people was taking place. The vehicle struck the back of one witness’s car before crashing into the crowd.
The driver has been arrested and charged with criminal vehicular homicide. Authorities have not yet disclosed a possible motive behind the incident or released the names of the victims. However, Annelise Heitkamp, a spokesperson for Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, confirmed that one of the deceased and the four injured were employees of the hospital. The four injured individuals are all nurses, and one of them is the nurse who was being celebrated that evening for leaving her role for a new position.
Dr. Thomas Stark from Methodist Hospital told KSTP-TV that the medical staff had gathered at the Park Tavern to celebrate their colleague’s new career chapter. The celebration, which turned into a disaster, left the nurse who was the guest of honor with severe injuries and in the hospital.
The second fatality has been identified as Kristina Folkerts, a 30-year-old server at the Park Tavern. Park Tavern owner Phil Weber reported that Folkerts had a deep connection to the restaurant, as her mother, who passed away when Folkerts was 14, was also a server there. Folkerts leaves behind three young daughters.
Following the incident, the Park Tavern has announced it will remain closed until further notice. The restaurant, known for its family-friendly atmosphere with bowling lanes, arcade games, and a dining area, expressed gratitude for the public’s understanding and support during this difficult time.
The Minnesota State Patrol has conducted an accident reconstruction, and the investigation into the incident is ongoing. The community continues to mourn the loss and support the families affected by the tragedy.
