Community gathers Thursday for funeral of Park Tavern server killed in crash

On a Thursday in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, the community gathered to mourn the loss of Kristina Folkerts, a 30-year-old server at Park Tavern, who tragically died in a patio crash. The incident occurred nearly two weeks prior when 56-year-old Steven Bailey drove into the restaurant's patio, resulting in the deaths of Folkerts and Gabe Harvey, a nurse. The crash also left at least nine others injured. Bailey's blood alcohol level was reported to be four times the legal limit at the time of the accident. Folkerts was remembered as a devoted mother of three, passionate about her children and her work at Park Tavern. Her family and friends described her as ambitious and a lover of photography. In response to the tragedy, an online fundraiser has raised over $217,000 to support her family, and Park Tavern is working on establishing a trust fund for her children. Bailey, who has a troubling history with alcohol, faced multiple charges, including two counts of criminal vehicular homicide and nine counts of criminal vehicular operation. Following the review of surveillance footage, the Hennepin County Attorney's office added two counts of third-degree murder to the charges against him. His previous DWI convictions, totaling five from 1985 to 2014, highlight a concerning pattern of behavior. The restaurant closed for lunch on the day of the funeral to allow staff to pay their respects. Park Tavern plans to reopen later that day, demonstrating the resilience of the community as they come together to support the families affected by this tragic event.