Mother and daughter fatally struck by car after leaving Drake concert

ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) - Police say a mother and daughter were killed and several other people were injured after a driver allegedly ran a red light and struck multiple pedestrians and vehicles in a St. Louis intersection.

The fatal crash happened around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday at 18th and Olive. Police say a 2020 Jeep Cherokee ran a red light and sideswiped the front of a 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander. The Jeep then hit two women who were walking in the crosswalk with the right of way after leaving the Drake concert at Enterprise Center. The Jeep then crashed into a 2015 Mazda CX-5.

Police say the two women hit in the crosswalk were a mother in her 40s and a daughter in her 20s visiting from Chicago. The mother died at the scene, and the daughter died after being taken to an area hospital. Their names have not been released.

Four other people were injured in the crash, KMOV reports.

Police say the driver of the Jeep was speeding as they ran the traffic lights for several blocks along Olive before getting to 18th. The accident happened just down the street from police headquarters.

Christy Davis has been working at the White Knight Diner downtown for a decade, and she says it’s fairly common for her to walk into work and see the remains of a car accident just outside.

“This morning, all I seen was just the debris out there,” Davis said. “We have accidents here all the time. It’s sad and unfortunate that things like that are happening downtown, considering there are a lot of things and events people like to go to and come to to our city.”

Downtown resident Mary Swearingen says she takes extra precautions walking because of the way people drive.

“We stop... and step out a little bit and look all four ways because people just don’t notice you or they’re not paying any attention,” she said.

Swearingen says she rarely sees police patrolling her area and wants that to change.

“I’m not knocking the police because I know they have a really difficult job and they’re not paid what they should be paid, but I’d feel a lot more comfortable if they were even walking the beat like they used to do,” she said.

Davis agrees, saying it could also help visitors feel more comfortable coming to St. Louis.

“A little more safety,” she said. “A little more alertness to what’s going on around.”

The driver of the Jeep remains in the hospital. Charges have not yet been filed.

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