Park Tavern crash raises questions about technological, legal tools to prevent impaired driving

Minnesota Now

A man facing charges in Sunday’s drunk driving crash that killed two people and injured nine others at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday afternoon.

There are questions surrounding his DWI record. During yesterday’s news conference outlining the charges, Hennepin County Attorney Moriarty said it was “hugely problematic” that Steven Bailey still had a driver’s license. Bailey had an ignition interlock installed in his car for several years after convictions for drunk driving.

The Minnesota Department of Health estimates one in seven Minnesotans has at least one DWI. The national group Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) argues ignition locks and other technology preventing an intoxicated driver from operating their car could help reduce drunken driving deaths.

For more on these steps, MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Lauren Johnson, marketing and community engagement manager for MADD’s Upper Midwest Region.