Police have charged the man behind the wheel of an SUV that killed four people with DWI, after the man crashed into a Long Island nail salon at high speed. An NYPD officer was among the four killed, while ten others were injured during the incident.
Suffolk County Police said that Steven Schwally, 64, was driving a Chevy Traverse southbound at a high rate of speed through a parking lot in Deer Park at around 4:30 p.m. when he crossed a roadway and continued into another parking lot. Schwally then crashed through the front window of Hawaii Nail & Spa, traveling nearly all the way through to the back of the salon.
Three women and a man were pronounced dead at the scene; they were identified by police as: Jiancai Chen, 37, of Bayside, Queens; Yan Xu, 41, of Flushing, Queens; Meizi Zhang, 50, of Flushing, Queens; and Emilia Rennhack, 30, an off-duty NYPD officer who lived in Deer Park. Nine other people, including a 12-year-old girl, were injured and rushed to local hospitals. One person had to be airlifted.
Suffolk County Police arrested Schwally, of Dix Hills, and charged him with DWI after the crash. Police say Schwally was among those hospitalized, suffering non-life-threatening injuries. Police say he will be arraigned at a later date.
Witnesses reported seeing the vehicle swerving as it left the Kohl’s parking lot across the street from the salon. Fire officials say the vehicle traveled all the way through the building, remaining stuck in the back of the salon for hours after the crash.
NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban wrote, “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of Police Officer Emilia Rennhack, whose life was taken far too soon. We offer our support to Emilia’s family, friends, and co-workers during this incredibly difficult time. Please keep our officer and her loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.”
Mayor Eric Adams wrote in part, “It is never easy to get word that we have lost one of our own dedicated public servants — no matter the circumstances.”
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