On Sunday night, a car struck six individuals at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in south St. Louis, according to authorities.
Six individuals sustained injuries when a car struck them on Sunday evening outside Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in south St. Louis, according to authorities.
Shortly after the crash occurred around 8 p.m., the St. Louis Fire Department took to social media platform X to provide an update. According to their post, one of the individuals who was struck is currently in critical condition.
Mitch McCoy, a spokesperson for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, stated that during their evaluation of the injuries, they noticed that one individual seemed to have a head injury, while the rest had non-life-threatening injuries.
A white car traveling westbound on Chippewa Street pulled into the parking lot of the custard shop and collided with a group of people. The individuals involved in the incident ranged in age from 12 to a man in his 70s, according to the police.
The car not only caused injuries to people but also damaged a makeshift structure in the parking lot. It is worth mentioning that this particular portion of the parking lot is used to house Christmas trees during the winter months.
“They ran into a group of people and then quickly fled the scene, even running over some individuals as they made their getaway,” recounted Nick Kasoff, who had been enjoying some custard with his family at the time.
“We were eagerly waiting by the window after placing our ice cream order when we suddenly heard a series of loud banging noises. In an instant, the entire crowd of hundreds of people started screaming and running towards us. Since we were located at the west end of the building, the car collision had occurred at the east end. The scene turned chaotic for a brief moment,” Kasoff recalled.
After the crash, authorities issued an all-points bulletin for the car. However, to everyone’s surprise, the car’s 19-year-old driver returned to the scene shortly afterwards.
According to McCoy, the driver confessed that he became frightened when people began banging on the windows. Uncertain about what to do, he decided to go home and inform his family about the incident. After discussing the situation with his family, they advised him to return to the scene. McCoy added, “We are currently in the process of speaking with him, so it’s a dynamic and ongoing situation. However, we have successfully located the driver and he is currently being interviewed by detectives and officers.”
The custard stand sits in the heart of St. Louis Hills neighborhood, specifically in the 6700 block of Chippewa Street. Unfortunately, this particular area has witnessed numerous pedestrian accidents in recent years, with two tragic fatalities occurring in 2022 alone.
In May 2022, a tragic incident occurred when Edward Walter, a 77-year-old man, lost his life after being struck by a car while crossing the street. The driver of the vehicle, who remained at the scene, made an attempt to avoid Walter but unfortunately couldn’t evade the collision.
In July, a tragic incident occurred when Matthew Nikolai, a 17-year-old, and his family were crossing Chippewa Street. At that moment, a man behind the wheel of a Ford F-150 pickup truck collided with him.
Jacob Adler, the driver, admitted his guilt earlier this year for leaving the scene of an accident that led to a fatality and tampering with physical evidence. In a plea agreement reached with prosecutors, Adler was handed a sentence of 120 days of “shock time” in prison, followed by five years of probation.
In December 2023, a man and woman were crossing Chippewa Street near Ted Drewes when a car struck them, resulting in serious injuries to the woman. Fortunately, the driver responsible for the accident stayed at the scene.
The city stated that it had funding available through ward capital to implement safety features, but it was in the process of identifying suitable contractors. Each year, alderpersons are allocated $300,000 to enhance their respective wards.
The first phase, initially planned for June, aimed to implement curb bump-outs and fencing on the road. These infrastructure improvements would help guide drivers more effectively. Meanwhile, the second phase, scheduled for the fall or early winter, aimed to enhance pedestrian safety by installing additional signage to highlight people walking.
According to an email response from Conner Kerrigan, spokesperson for St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, safety improvements are set to commence in January, in response to a query about the Sunday night crash.
The custard stand’s east parking lot will be relocated as part of the additional improvements. In addition, cameras will be installed and connected to the city’s Real Time Crime Center, enhancing security measures. Furthermore, lighting will be improved to create a safer environment. Kerrigan expressed gratitude for the prompt response of the first responders and extended prayers to those affected by the incident.