Three women were injured early Tuesday morning when an SUV struck them while they were trying to break up a fight outside a nightclub in Downtown West, St. Louis. The victims, aged 28, 31, and 32, were outside Club Dream near the intersection of North 19th Street and Washington Avenue when a maroon Ford Edge hit them. According to FOX 2 Now, witnesses also reported hearing gunshots during the incident.
Concerns about the safety of visitors and residents in the neighborhood have increased following this event. Peg Weathers, president and CEO of Grand Center Inc., commented on the incident, stating, "Knowing the pace that some of the cars come along here, it doesn't surprise me. It's just awful to learn that it's happened again," in a statement reported by KSDK. The organization is actively trying to implement measures to slow traffic down along the Washington Avenue corridor in an effort to prevent future occurrences.
A landlord with multiple properties in the area noted that numerous complaints had been made against the club. "The first thing we check every time is whether they have the proper permits and licenses. Then we'll do an investigation on that, and we'll take steps to try to close this establishment if needed," Major Pierre Benoist of the St. Louis police told KSDK. Surveillance measures, including Real Time Crime cameras, are also being considered to enhance security and monitoring in the area.
After the incident, all victims were quickly taken to Barnes Jewish Hospital, First Alert 4 reports. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is actively searching for the driver of the Ford Edge that fled the scene after the incident. Anyone with helpful information is encouraged to come forward and can contact CrimeStoppers anonymously at 866-371-8477.