Park Tavern fatal crash: Steven Bailey set to plead guilty

ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. (FOX 9) - The man charged with murder and drunk driving after crashing into the patio at the Park Tavern in St. Louis Park, leaving two people dead and injuring a dozen others, is set to plead guilty, just days before his criminal trial was set to begin.

Steven Bailey to plead guilty

What we know:

Court records show a plea hearing is scheduled for Wednesday morning for Bailey.

Prosecutors say Bailey is set to plead guilty in the case. Further details about the plea were not yet available.

New charges filed 

What's new:

An amended criminal complaint filed on Friday shows Bailey is facing three new charges of criminal vehicular operation while under the influence of alcohol for victims identified as C.S., M.G. and N.L.  

The charging documents detail that C.S. was knocked unconscious by the crash, and had sustained ongoing headaches and bruises to his head and legs. Victims M.G. and N.L. sustained various cuts and bruises from the incident.

Amended charges:

Prosecutors also amended two charges of criminal vehicular operation from causing substantial bodily harm to causing great bodily harm to victims, L.K. and T.L. 

Court records say L.K. was unable to walk for several months and sustained a liver laceration in addition to fracturing 11 ribs, a clavicle, multiple vertebrae and the pelvis.

T.L. sustained head trauma, facial lacerations and fractures. The complaint explains he was also diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, has no memory of the crash, and has been unable to return to work as an ICU nurse.

Tavern owner, victim react to guilty plea

What the owner is saying:

"The only justice is really an eye for an eye, but that’s just not our legal system," said Park Tavern owner Phil Weber. "I wouldn’t even want to waste my breath talking to him. If he hasn’t got the God-given common sense to not do what he did – somebody like that’s beyond reason. They just don’t think like a normal person."

What a victim is saying:

"At least we know he’s going to be in jail, and he’s not going to be able to hurt other people...." said Tegan D’Albani, who suffered multiple leg and pelvic injuries. "If this happened to your children, what do you think would be an appropriate sentence for someone that potentially would’ve killed your child due to drunk driving?"

Trial set for May

The backstory:

Police say surveillance video shows Bailey driving his vehicle into the parking lot of Park Tavern just after 8 p.m. on Sept. 1.

According to charges, Bailey tried to back into a parking spot, but struck another car. He then pulled out of the spot and accelerated into the patio area outside the restaurant.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty previously said Bailey took a breath test after the crash, testing four times the legal limit with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.325.

Two people were killed in the crash: Park Tavern server Kristina Folkerts and Methodist Hospital employee Gabe Harvey. At least a dozen people were injured.

Trial date:

A trial date is set for May 12, though court records show a plea hearing has been scheduled for 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday. 

Bailey is facing 16 charges stemming from the crash, including:

• Two counts of third-degree murder
• Two counts of criminal vehicular homicide -- operating a vehicle with negligence while under the influence of alcohol
• Three counts of criminal vehicular operation while under the influence of alcohol -- causing great bodily harm
• Two counts of criminal vehicular operation while under the influence of alcohol -- causing substantial bodily harm
• Seven counts of criminal vehicular operation while under the influence of alcohol – causing bodily harm

Bailey pleaded not guilty in December 2024 to the charges he was facing. He was released in October after posting a $500,000 bond, and must follow a range of conditions, such as having no contact with the victims, and being prohibited from operating a vehicle.