Minnesota Restaurant Server and Patron Are Killed When Vehicle Slams into Outdoor Patio

Mar. 15, 2025

Kristina Folkerts, Gabe Harvey.Photo:GoFundMe, Gabe Harvey/Facebook

GoFundMe, Gabe Harvey/Facebook

A hospital worker and a server with strong family ties to the restaurant at which she worked were killed on Sunday night when a car plowed into the outdoor patio at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park, Minn.

Four other nurses from Methodist Hospital were reportedly injured in the crash, according toThe Star Tribuneand localKTSP. PEOPLE has reached out to the hospital for an update on their conditions.LocalKARE 11reported that Folkerts was a mother to three children between the ages of 1 years old and 7 years old.

“We’re heartbroken over the loss of Kristina, a wonderful mother and friend, and we’re rallying to support her three young girls during this unimaginable time,” the restaurant posted Monday on Facebook. In a separate post, Park Tavern announced it will remain closed “until further notice as we support and care for our staff and neighbors.”

Police are shown at the scene where a car drove into the patio seating area of Park Tavern in St. Louis Park, Minn., Sunday night, Sept. 1, 2024.Jeff Wheeler/Star Tribune via AP

Jeff Wheeler/Star Tribune via AP

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The St. Louis Park Police Department said in a statement online that surveillance footage allegedly shows Bailey drive into the Park Tavern parking lot and attempting to park before driving into the restaurant’s outdoor patio.

TheTribunereported that Bailey has two prior drunk driving convictions and that officials are investigating whether he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash on Sunday night. Park Tavern’s general manager Terry Freeman alleged to the outlet Bailey’s driving was like “out of a damn movie” and that he “barreled right through.”

The wreckage of a car is shown at the scene where a car drove into the patio seating area of Park Tavern in St. Louis Park, Minn., Sunday night, Sept. 1, 2024.Jeff Wheeler/Star Tribune via AP

Harvey and a group of other nurses were at the restaurant celebrating another nurse’s last shift, according to KTSP.

“There was not a soul that Gabe met that he didn’t leave an impression on,” reads a GoFundMe set up to assist his partner with funeral expenses. “He always had a smile and a kind word for everyone.”

source: people.com