ST. LOUIS — Police detectives are looking for the driver of the car that struck three young women outside a St. Louis nightclub early Tuesday morning, police said.
St. Louis Police say at 1:45 a.m., several women began fighting inside Club Dream on Washington Avenue and spilled outside to the street.
The women, ages 28, 31 and 32, told police they were trying to break up the fight when a woman driving a maroon Ford Edge ran them over with a car.
"Throughout this fight, a car drove by and struck them, who we believe was involved with the earlier disturbance inside the event," said Major Pierre Benoist with St. Louis police.
Officers said the 28-year-old suffered a broken leg. The other two women suffered scrapes and pains.
"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," said Peg Weathers, the president & CEO of Grand Center Inc.
Despite a history of five calls to help this year at the club, officials say it has proper permits.
Security cameras line the entire block, but recently, neighbors requested Real Time Crime cameras, which sit across the street from the nightclub. Benoist said they're working to address some of these problem properties.
"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," said Benoist.
A landlord who owns several buildings on this block said dozens of residents and business owners have complained about Club Dream and want to see it shut down.
The victims told police they also heard gunfire during the commotion, a report from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said. None of the women were struck by the gunfire.
When police made it to the scene, the victims were already taken to Barnes Jewish Hospital.
Grand Center Inc. is an organization that works to build the area up to bring more visitors in. Weathers said they're concerned for their visitors' safety, which is why they're trying to slow drivers down on Washington Avenue.
"We're working with the city of St Louis through our alderperson to bring those traffic calming measures, like speed bumps, cutouts, or rumble strips of some kind, because there are cars that come through here way too fast for pedestrians. So that cars drive at a more reasonable speed or drive at the speed limit and make sure they're looking out for everyone. We have schools nearby. It's really important to drive slowly in an area with so many visitors," Weathers said.
Anyone with information who wants to remain anonymous and is interested in a possible reward can contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477).
Resources for crime victims:
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
The Bullet Related Injury Clinic (BRIC) is a community-based clinic in St. Louis that helps people heal after they have been injured by a bullet. The BRIC was established to help people who are discharged home from the emergency department after being shot.