A person drove his automobile by means of the patio of a restaurant the place a gaggle of medical employees had been celebrating in a Minneapolis suburb on Sunday, killing two folks and injuring no less than 4, police and hospital officers stated.
Surveillance footage captured a person, whose identify police didn’t launch, driving onto the skin patio of the Park Tavern in St. Louis Park, a metropolis instantly west of Minneapolis. The footage reveals the person pulling into the restaurant’s parking zone Sunday night time however not getting in. He tried to park after which drove onto the skin patio, police stated.
The driving force was arrested for legal vehicular murder. Police didn’t provide additional particulars a few potential motive. Additionally they didn’t determine the victims. However in a written assertion Monday, Annelise Heitkamp, a spokeswoman for Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, stated one of many individuals who died and the 4 who had been injured labored on the facility.
“Following the tragic incident at Park Tavern, we mourn the lack of a beloved and revered colleague and buddy to many right here at Methodist Hospital and HealthPartners,” Heitkamp stated. “Our ideas are with our colleague’s household and family members throughout this extremely troublesome time.”
The assertion didn’t reveal the names of the folks killed, however did say that every one 4 hospital employees injured had been nurses. Dr. Thomas Stark, who works at Methodist Hospital, informed KSTP-TV that the group of colleagues went to Park Tavern, which is close to the hospital, on Sunday night time to rejoice with one of many nurses, who was leaving her job to take a brand new place.
“He moved on to the following chapter of his life and everybody was celebrating, having time and saying goodbye,” Stark stated.
In line with the information station, that nurse is now hospitalized with severe accidents.
An individual who witnessed the incident informed KARE-TV that the motive force hit the again of his car earlier than driving straight right into a crowd of about 30 folks on the patio. Park Tavern proprietor Phil Weber informed the information station that the second particular person killed is Kristina Folkerts, a waitress on the restaurant.
Folkerts, 30, had a long-standing relationship with the Park Tavern, Weber stated. Earlier than Folkerts’ mom died, she was additionally a waitress on the restaurant. She died when Folkerts was 14, and restaurant workers got here to the teenager’s assist and infrequently babysat her. Folkerts is survived by three younger daughters.
In line with its web site, The Park Tavern is a “family-friendly vacation spot providing bowling alleys and arcade video games, in addition to a restaurant and bar.” In a written assertion posted on-line, the restaurant stated it might stay closed till additional discover.
“Thanks on your understanding and kindness throughout this extremely troublesome time,” the assertion stated.
The Minnesota State Patrol carried out a crash reconstruction and a police investigation into the incident is underway, authorities stated.
