ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. (KARE) – Two people were killed after a car plowed into the crowded patio bar of a popular restaurant in Minnesota Sunday night.
Authorities said the victims were a restaurant employee and a patron.
Phil Weber is the owner of Park Tavern in the St. Louis Park area of Minneapolis.
“Park Tavern is part of the fabric of St. Louis Park,” he said. “My dad started the original one in 1957.”
Weber said it didn’t feel real to him when he got the call that a car had driven into the Park Tavern patio and killed two people. Four other people were injured in the accident.
“It’s still just unbelievable … unbelievable,” he said.
When he found out one of the victims was a second-generation employee, Weber said it hurt even more.
Kristina Folkert’s time at the Tavern began in her mom’s belly.
Fellow servers said they used to babysit her so her mom could work.
Folkert’s mother passed away when she was just 14 years old.
“I keep accusing her of being like her mother because she’s like her mother, and now, unfortunately, she is with her mother,” Weber said.
Folkert recreated a photo of her mother last year when she was pregnant. She leaves behind three girls between the ages of 1 and 7.
“I feel helpless, I feel so devastated to wake up to this,” Weber said.
The other family involved is from Methodist Hospital. A group of nurses had gathered to celebrate a fellow co-worker.
In the accident, one nurse was killed and four others injured.
Mary McGibon is a co-worker of the victims.
“These are wonderful people.. colleagues of mine and I pray for their well-being,” she said.
“He had a heart of gold. Always smiled, and he loved his colleagues,” McGibon said.
Now, bent gates and tire tracks are overshadowed with flowers and signs of love.
“We have such a loyal generational following, and I know their thoughts are with us and that’s really all I need,” Weber said.
The 56-year-old driver of the vehicle was taken into custody by police.
It’s not clear what charges he may be facing.
Witnesses reported seeing him trying to find a parking spot before he drove the car onto the patio.
The restaurant has been closed indefinitely.
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