ST. LOUIS — Six people were hospitalized Sunday night after being struck by a vehicle in the parking lot of Ted Drewes on Chippewa, leaving one in critical condition and others with serious injuries, according to authorities.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) announced Monday that 19-year-old Rasool Al Janabi has been charged with five counts of leaving the scene of an accident, among other charges.

“It’s our understanding through the investigation that he got scared. He went home; he hold his family what had happened and they returned him to the scene,” said Mitch McCoy, director of SLMPD's public affairs and information division, during a press conference Monday.

Police say Al Janabi did return to the scene after the incident and he was interviewed by detectives. A family member was in the passenger seat at the time of the incident.

SLMPD says a preliminary investigtion shows the driver was traveling westbound on Chippewa when the vehicle driven by Al Janabi suddenly left the roadway and crashed into metal barriers on the parking lot, hitting multiple people. 

As of now, it does not appear that the suspect was speeding, according to McCoy.

“He was trying to avoid something in the road and he overcorrected. This is not something that could have been prevented, at least that’s what the investigation is showing us right now,” he said.

Among the six people transported to a hospital was a 39-year-old off-duty police officer who left in critical condition after attempting to clear people from the incident site. While doing so, he became on top of the car and was on the hood when it took off, according to SLMPD.

He sustained head injuries. McCoy said he is making improvements since Sunday night and is expected to recover.

The other victims include a 21-year-old woman, a 17-year-old man, a 55-year-old man, a 12-year-old girl and an 82-year-old man, according to police.

Most sustained head injuries and the 12-year-old girl has a leg injury.

A Ted Drewes Facebook post says, "Our hearts go out to those who were injured in the incident that occurred last night as well as their families. We look forward to the safety improvements to Chippewa which the city plans to begin next month.

"Huge thank you to the customers who stepped up to help and the first responders on the scene. Their quick actions prevented this sad incident from becoming much worse."

Plans were delayed earlier this year for traffic calming and safety improvements on Chippewa outside of Ted Drewes. Shipping delays were part of the cause for the project's halt, according to Conner Kerrigan, director of communications with the Mayor's Office. 

However, over the next month, St. Louis City plans to begin making safety improvements, which include the relocation of the east entrance, an accessible signal mid-block crossing, improved lighting, bump out bollards in front and a real time crime center camera.

Those safety improvements are anticpated "to be in place" in the spring, Kerrigan said.

The investigation is ongoing by police.