ST. LOUIS – Safety improvements are underway around Ted Drewes in South St. Louis following multiple tragic incidents.
The city is implementing several safety measures while Ted Drewes is closed for the winter season. These include a new crosswalk with a pedestrian-activated signal, a concrete traffic barrier, and a raised median. Additional improvements involve new lighting, parking lot enhancements, and safer sidewalks.
The latest incident occurred just before Christmas when 19-year-old Rasool Al Janabi crashed through metal barriers, hitting five people, and struck a sixth person when he backed up and drove away. Al Janabi later returned to the scene and was taken into custody, now facing five felony charges for leaving the scene and causing physical injury.
In May 2022, a Washington University librarian in his 70s was hit and killed, followed by the death of a 17-year-old CBC High School student a few months later.
City officials hope a lot of this work can be done before Ted Drewes reopens in February and that these changes will make the area safer for pedestrians and drivers alike.
All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff.