A 57-year-old grandfather who caused a deadly crash at a Minnesota restaurant last year was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Monday.
Steven Frane Bailey, who pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree murder and three counts of criminal vehicular operation with great bodily harm, was responsible for the tragic crash on September 1, 2024, at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park, a suburb of Minneapolis.
The crash killed two people, Kristina Marie Folkerts and Gabriel Quinn Harvey, and injured a dozen others.
Bailey, who was drunk at the time of the incident, admitted to police that he was “f—ed” and “probably going to jail” right after the crash. His prognosis was accurate: the crash that he caused, which involved his BMW X5, led to his arrest and a lengthy sentence.
The Incident and the Impact
The crash unfolded when Bailey, driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content of 0.325—over four times the legal limit—plowed through a parking lot, striking multiple vehicles before crashing through a metal fence and into the patio seating area of the restaurant.
He hit multiple people and tables, continuing to accelerate until hitting boulders at the end of the patio. Folkerts and Harvey, both 30, were killed in the incident.
In emotional testimony during the sentencing, the families of the victims spoke about the profound loss they experienced. Folkerts’ mother described the pain of losing her daughter, saying she felt like “a shell of a person” and would “never heal.”
Survivors of the crash also shared their experiences, with one woman, Tegan D’Albani, recalling how she was struck and severely injured by Bailey’s vehicle. D’Albani suffered broken legs and underwent multiple surgeries, with no clear end to her recovery.
Bailey’s Statements and Sentencing
Bailey, who expressed shock when informed he would face manslaughter charges, admitted to officers that he meant to hit the brake but accidentally hit the gas instead. He later acknowledged his actions in a statement, saying, “My life’s pretty much f—ed now, isn’t it?”
District Judge Juan Hoyos, before handing down the sentence, acknowledged the deep emotional pain and lasting impact of Bailey’s actions. “What I’ve heard today… the pain that was caused, the loss of life, it’s just unimaginable,” he said. “This pain and loss is just gonna remain forever.”
The Victims
The two victims, Folkerts and Harvey, were both beloved members of their communities. Folkerts, a mother of three, worked at Park Tavern and was known for her passion for photography and love for her family.
Harvey, who worked as a health unit coordinator at Methodist Hospital, was out celebrating with co-workers when the crash occurred. He had recently bought a house with his partner and was set to graduate from nursing school.
An outpouring of community support for the victims has followed the incident. A GoFundMe for Folkerts raised over $230,000 to support her family, and tributes poured in for both victims, with people describing them as kind, loving individuals who left a lasting impact on everyone they met.
Bailey’s reckless actions that night have forever altered the lives of those who survived and the families of the victims. With his 30-year sentence, Bailey now faces the consequences of his actions, though it cannot undo the immense pain and loss caused by the crash.
The community’s support for the victims continues, and their legacies will live on in the memories of those who loved them.
