Fundraisers Set For Minnesotans Killed By Car On Restaurant Patio
For over 60 years, the Park Tavern Bowling & Entertainment Center has been a popular entertainment location in St. Louis Park, a suburb just west of Minneapolis.
According to its website, after starting as a 3.2-tavern with room for only 50 guests, the Park Tavern has grown to become a top Twin Cities area destination, with the ability to host events for up to 500 people.
As a founding member of the St. Louis Park Community Foundation, and a sponsor of the St. Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP), the Park Tavern also takes great pride in giving back to the community, hosting countless events and fundraisers for local organizations.
However, after tragedy struck on Sunday, September 1, it's now the community giving back to the Park Tavern family.
Tragedy Strikes September 1 At The Park Tavern
According to reports, two people were killed and three were injured when a man, who has since been identified as 56-year-old Steven Frane Bailey, drove his car through the Park Tavern's outside patio area.
Security video reportedly captured Bailey entering the restaurant parking lot on Sunday evening but not going inside. He first attempted to park before driving into a crowd of about 30 people on the outdoor patio, including a group of nurses from Methodist Hospital who were on the patio celebrating the final shift.
The two victims have been identified as Kristina Folkerts, a mother of 3 young girls who worked as a server at The Park Tavern, and Gabe Harvey, who worked as an intensive care coordinator at Methodist Hospital. The hospital has since confirmed that four more nurses were among the injured.
Steven Fran Bailey has been arrested on suspicion of criminal vehicular homicide.
The Park Tavern announced that it will be closed until further notice as they "support and care" for their staff and neighbors.
Fundraisers Have Been Started For Kristina Folkerts & Gabe Harvey
Since the tragedy, GoFundMe pages have been established for each victim.
The Park Tavern started a fundraiser for Kristina Folkerts, stating "Kristina was a loving mother of 3 young girls and friend to many in the community. We are at a deep loss and thank you for your support during this challenging time."
The fundraiser began with a goal of $150,000 and as of Monday night, it had surpassed $102,000.
Sara Vandenberg and Stephanie Jurgensen, coworkers and friends of Gabe Harvey established a 'Gabe Harvey Memorial Fund' on GoFundMe. It states that 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."
The fundraiser began with a goal of $25,000 and as of Monday night, it had surpassed $14,000. Funds donated will given to Gabe’s partner Denzel for funeral expenses and living expenses as Gabe and Denzel recently became new homeowners.
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