2024-09-04 00:20:02
Memorial grows outside Park Tavern after crash
Park Tavern in St. Louis Park is closed until further notice after a deadly crash on its patio Sunday night left two people dead and three others injured.
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. (FOX 9) – Two people were killed, and several others were injured when a driver plowed into the patio at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park Sunday night. Here’s how you an help their families.
What happened
St. Louis Park police and fire crews responded to the incident along Louisiana Avenue South just after 8 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 1.
Surveillance footage shows the male driver entering the parking lot at The Park Tavern and attempting to park before driving into the patio area. He was arrested at the scene on suspicion of criminal vehicular homicide.
The incident killed two people and injured four others. A memorial has been created at the popular restaurant, bar and bowling alley for the victims.
At this point, it’s unclear why the driver drove into the patio area – and whether the crash was an accident or otherwise. The investigation into the crash is ongoing. The Minnesota State Patrol is conducting accident reconstruction.
The Park Tavern is closed until further notice.
Who are the victims?
A memorial set up at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park. (FOX 9)
Kristina Folkerts, a server at Park Tavern, and Gabe Harvey, an employee at nearby Methodist Hospital, were killed in the crash, according to fundraisers set up to benefit their families. Four others — all employees at Methodist Hospital — were injured in the incident, the hospital told FOX 9.
The group of nurses from Methodist Hospital were on the patio celebrating the final shift of a departing coworker when a tragedy occurred.
Kristina Folkerts
Remembering the Park Tavern crash victims
Kristina Folkerts, one of the victims of the fatal crash at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park, Minn., had a deep, lifelong connection to Park Tavern where she worked as a server, that FOX 9 had previously profiled.
Staff and patrons of Park Tavern are fondly remembering Folkerts.
Back in September 2023, FOX 9 shared the story of Folkerts, who had become a waitress at the Park Tavern, the same spot where her mother worked. Folkerts grew up at the tavern, often spending her childhood days there with her mother, Lauralee, who was a beloved server at Park Tavern for decades before her death in 2008 from ovarian cancer.
After Lauralee died, Folkerts initially struggled to return to the place that held so many memories of her mother. But after becoming a mother herself, Folkerts decided to return to Park Tavern for a job.
Folkerts had three young daughters.
A GoFundMe has been set up by Park Tavern to benefit Folkerts’ family.
Gabe Harvey
Memorial grows outside Park Tavern after crash
Park Tavern in St. Louis Park is closed until further notice after a deadly crash on its patio Sunday night left two people dead and three others injured.
Harvey was the other person killed in the crash on Park Tavern’s patio on Sunday, according to a GoFundMe set up to benefit his partner.
He worked as a health unit coordinator at Methodist Hospital’s ICU while he was in nursing school, the fundraiser said.
“He worked his way up to being an ICU nurse, and he’s one of the best at it. He’s a great, kind human being, awesome with patients, and awesome with their families,” said Dr. Thomas Stark of Methodist Hospital.
The GoFundMe said, “There was not a soul that Gabe met that he didn’t leave an impression on. He always had a smile and a kind word for everyone.”
Four other nurses at Methodist Hospital were among those injured.
“These are wonderful people, colleagues of mine, and I just pray for their well-being and wish them peace,” said Mary McGibbon, a Methodist employee.
How to help the other victims
GoFundMe pages have also been set up for two of the victims who were hurt in the crash.
According to GoFundMe, Theo Larson works for the Methodist Hospital ICU and suffered multiple skull fractures, facial fractures and orbital fractures. The fundraiser will help him and his new wife with medical expenses and his recovery.
Tegan D’Albani was also injured in the crash. She suffered “extensive fractures throughout her body,” according to a GoFundMe page. The fundraiser will help her with her care.
A GoFundMe for Laura Knutsen says she was supposed to start CRNA school at St. Mary’s University on Sept. 3. She suffered “extensive fractures and numerous traumatic injuries” in the crash. The fundraiser will help support her care and recovery.
