DEER PARK, N.Y. — A person behind the wheel of an SUV was drunk and dashing when he crashed into a Long Island nail salon, killing an off-duty New York Metropolis Police Division officer and three different individuals, police mentioned Saturday.
Suffolk County Police arrested Steven Schwally, of Dix Hills, and charged him with DWI after the crash in Deer Park.
The 4 victims killed within the crash have been recognized as 50-year-old Meizi Zhang, 41-year-old Yan Xu, 37-year-old Jiancai Chen and 30-year-old Emilia Rennhack, an off-duty NYPD officer who lived in Deer Park.
9 different individuals, together with a 12-year-old lady, had been injured and rushed to native hospitals. One individual needed to be airlifted.
Police say Schwally was amongst these hospitalized. He suffered non-life-threatening accidents. Police say he will probably be arraigned at a later date.
Witnesses noticed SUV swerving earlier than crash
Hawaii Nail and Spa on Grand Boulevard was busy with prospects round 4:30 p.m. Friday when Schwally allegedly crashed his black Chevy Traverse into the storefront, killing 4 individuals and injuring eight others. Schwally additionally suffered minor accidents within the crash.
Witnesses reported seeing the car swerving because it left the Kohl’s car parking zone throughout the road from the salon.
“It was simply probably the most horrifying, traumatizing, upsetting factor I’ve ever seen in my life … I could not sleep final evening in any respect,” a witness named Hahn informed CBS New York’s Kristie Keleshian on Saturday.
Hahn was at a close-by mild when she says she noticed the driving force velocity previous her.
“And I believed, ‘This man is blowing a light-weight.’ And I had no concept what I used to be about to see, however I watched him come proper throughout Grand Boulevard and good into the salon,” Hahn mentioned.
Fireplace officers say the car traveled right through the constructing, remaining caught at the back of the salon for hours after the crash.
Deer Park group mourns victims killed in nail salon crash
The storefront was boarded up Saturday. Members of the family of staff gathered gadgets left behind as longtime prospects tried to console brokenhearted family members.
John Vassallo informed CBS New York he is been coming to Hawaii Nail and Spa because it opened about 15 years in the past.
“This can be a staple right here, this nail salon,” Vassallo mentioned.
Prospects describe the salon as having a vigorous, welcoming environment.
“They handled you want household. They did not deal with you want one other greenback,” one buyer mentioned.
“They’re the best individuals. They’re so family-oriented. It is unbelievable. It is unhappy, and it is a large, large loss,” Deer Park resident Mike McClorey mentioned.
Longtime prospects say the person who died was the shop supervisor, referred to as Kenny. His spouse additionally works on the salon.
New York Metropolis officers posted tributes to Rennhack on social media Saturday.
NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban wrote, “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the lack of Police Officer Emilia Rennhack, whose life was taken far too quickly. We provide our assist to Emilia’s household, buddies, and colleagues throughout this extremely troublesome time. Please preserve our officer and her family members in your ideas and prayers.”
Mayor Eric Adams wrote partially, “It’s by no means straightforward to get phrase that we’ve got misplaced one in every of our personal devoted public servants — irrespective of the circumstances.”
Saturday evening, bunting was seen outdoors the 102nd Precinct, the place Rennhack labored, and the American flag was at half workers.
