Steven Schwally, 64, is charged with driving under the influence after crashing into a nail salon on Long Island.
Four dead after car drives into nail salon on Long Island
Several people were killed when a vehicle crashed into a nail salon on Long Island.
Four people are dead and nine others are injured after a car crashed into a nail salon in the Deer Park area of Long Island, New York, authorities say.
Friday around 4:32 p.m., Dix Hills resident Steven Schwally, 64, was driving a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse southbound in Deer Park at a high rate of speed. Schwally then crossed and continued to drive through a parking lot. He then crashed the vehicle through the windshield of Hawaii Nail & Spa, according to Suffolk County police.
Three women and one man were pronounced dead at the scene when a physician assistant from the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s office arrived. Eight victims were transported to local hospitals and one was flown by the Suffolk County police helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital, police said.
Schwally was also taken to Good Samaritan University Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. He was charged with driving under the influence and will be arraigned once a date is assigned, police said.
At last check, the Suffolk County Police Department had not provided a current status of the victims.
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Police identify 4 victims killed in Long Island nail salon accident
The Suffolk County Police Department has released the names of the four victims who were killed. They are:
- Jiancai Chen, 37, of Bayside, Queens,
- Emilia Rennhack, 30, of Deer Park
- Yan Xu, 41, from Vlissingen, Queens
- Meizi Zhang, 50, of Flushing, Queens
Condolences pour in for fallen NYPD officer
One of the victims killed in the crash was a New York Police Department (NYPD) officer.
Emilia Rennhack, 30, of Deer Park, was an officer with the 102nd Precinct in Queens. New York broadcaster ABC7NY said her husband is also an NYPD detective.
“Rest in peace NYPD Officer Emilia Rennhack,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said in a Facebook post. “Officer Rennhack was unfortunately killed by a drunk driver in Suffolk County. Let us remember her service and sacrifice for our safety.”
Another Facebook user said Rennhack was preparing for a wedding before she was killed.
“I’m so sorry this happened to you, my sister in blue. She was getting her nails done for a wedding when a drunk driver crashed his minivan into the nail salon,” Veronica Watson Figueroa wrote.
Other officials asked the public to keep Rennhack and other victims in their thoughts and prayers.
“My deepest condolences go out to the family, friends and colleagues of NYPD Officer Emilia Rennhack, whose life was cut far too soon by a drunk driver while she was off-duty. We mourn this tragic loss and thank Officer Rennhack for her distinguished service – may she rest in peace,” Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) said in a Facebook post. “Please keep Officer Rennhack, the other victims of this accident, and their loved ones in your prayers.”
Customer injured at nail salon said ‘God saved her’: reports
A 20-year-old girl who was a client at Hawaii Nail & Spa is currently recovering from injuries she sustained in the crash.
Her aunt, Virginia Garcia, told CBS News that her niece is “lucky to be alive.”
“The lady sitting next to her died. So she was more nervous because when she saw the other lady die, she thought, ‘God saved her life, actually… She’s lucky to be alive,’” Garcia told the broadcast station.
Garcia also told the news station that her niece likely has some broken bones.
Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on USA TODAY’s National Trending Team. Ahjané covers breaking news, auto recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfinest.
