Man charged in deadly Park Tavern DWI crash pleads guilty
Steven Bailey, the Minnesota man charged in last year's deadly drunken driving crash at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park, pleaded guilty to multiple charges on Wednesday morning.
Bailey, 56, is accused of plowing into more than a dozen people on Park Tavern's patio on Sept. 1, 2024, killing server Kristina Folkerts and Methodist Hospital employee Gabe Harvey. Both victims were 30 years old. Twelve others were hurt, with five suffering serious injuries.
He was originally charged with 16 criminal counts, including three charges added earlier this week.
On Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree murder and three counts of criminal vehicular operation. He must also pay restitution for all victims. Bailey is expected to face up to 30 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for July 28.
According to the criminal complaint filed last year in Hennepin County, Bailey, of St. Louis Park, first struck a parked vehicle while backing his BMW X5 into a spot in Park Tavern's lot.
Bailey then struck an oncoming SUV before accelerating up to 45 mph and smashing through the patio's metal fence, the complaint states.
Officers at the scene say they overheard Bailey tell someone in a phone call that he "hit the gas instead of the brake and went right through a thing," and, "I'm f***ed," according to the complaint.
Bailey, whose blood alcohol level was four times the legal limit after the crash, has five prior convictions for driving while intoxicated, with the first case in 1985 and the last case in 2014, the complaint states.
Court records show he had an ignition interlock device — a breathalyzer system that prevents a car from starting if alcohol is detected on a driver's breath — on his vehicle for six years, which expired in 2020.
Minnesota Legislature considers reforms to DWI laws
On the same day that Bailey pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to the crash, the Minnesota Senate unanimously approved a measure aimed at preventing the tragedy from ever happening again.
Supporters say it improves the state's DWI laws. The proposal lengthens the amount of time repeat offenders would have to use ignition interlock devices.
For example, under current law if driver has three DWIs in a decade's time, they will need an interlock for four years to drive on Minnesota's roads.
The proposed changes say if a person has three or more in their lifetime, the interlock device would be required for 10 years.
The bill also doubles the period of time prior records would be considered for determining interlock requirements from 10 to 20 years.
DFL Sen. Ron Latz, the legislation's author who hails from St. Louis Park, said it will impact repeat offenders like Bailey, who had five prior DWIs over 30 years' span. His most recent one was in 2014.
"Extending the look back period will capture more cases and would have required this driver also to be on interlock had this law been in effect at the time," Latz said.
The House approved it with broad bipartisan support last week. The Senate Wednesday added an amendment, which means it has to go back to the House or be sorted through during the conference committee process before Gov. Tim Walz can sign it.
It is expected to get to his desk for signature before session ends.
