A Long Island man has been detained on a charge of driving while drunk after allegedly crashing his SUV into a nail shop, killing four people and wounding nine others, police said Saturday.
Suffolk County Police said Steven Schwally, of Dix Hills, was driving across the parking lot when he crashed his SUV into the front window of Hawaii Nail & Spa in Deer Park at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
According to investigators, the salon was open and doing business at the time of the collision. According to fire authorities who responded to the incident, Schwally was semiconscious when his car came to a halt at the rear of the business, which is located in a strip mall.
Spokespeople for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the police department stated they did not have his lawyer’s contact information.
Three ladies and one male were declared deceased on the spot. According to authorities, eight ladies and one guy were carried to hospitals, at least two of whom had significant injuries. A 12-year-old child was among those hurt. The remaining individuals were all adults, according to authorities.
Schwally was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The deceased were identified by Suffolk County police as Jiancai Chen, 37; Yan Xu, 41; and Meizi Zhang, 50, all from Queens, as well as Emilia Rennhack, 30, of Deer Park.
New York Nail Salon Crash Driver Charged with DUI
According to the New York Police Department, Rennhack was stationed at a Queens precinct and has been with the agency since 2018.
“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of Police Officer Emilia Rennhack, whose life was taken far too soon,” Police Commissioner Edward Caban said on the social media site X.
“Our hearts are breaking,” the New York Police Benevolent Association said on X. “Please join us in prayer for her family, friends, and coworkers.” Funeral arrangements will be made later.
Schwally was still in the hospital as of late Saturday, according to the office of Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. He will be arraigned later.