4 dead, 9 injured after a car crashes into a Long Island nail salon; driver arrested

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.

Around 4:32 p.m. on Friday Steven Schwally, 64, a Dix Hills resident, was driving a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse in Deer Park southbound at a high rate of speed. Schwally then crossed over and continued to speed through a parking lot. He then crashed the vehicle through the front window of Hawaii Nail & Spa, the Suffolk County Police Department said. 

Three women and a man were pronounced dead at the scene when a physician assistant from the office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner arrived. Eight victims were transported to local area hospitals and one was airlifted by the Suffolk County police helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital, police said.

Schwally was also transported to Good Samaritan University Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. He was charged with driving while intoxicated and will be arraigned once a date is assigned, police said. 

At last check, the Suffolk County Police Department had not provided an updated status on the victims.

Woman arrested:After dead body 'wrapped' in mattress found on car's back seat, police say

Police identify the 4 victims killed in the Long Island nail salon crash

The Suffolk County Police Department has released the names of the four victims killed. They are:

• Jiancai Chen, 37, of Bayside, Queens,
• Emilia Rennhack, 30, of Deer Park
• Yan Xu, 41, of Flushing, Queens
• Meizi Zhang, 50, of Flushing, Queens

Condolences pour in for fallen NYPD officer

One of the victims that died in the crash was a New York Police Department (NYPD) officer.

Emilia Rennhack, 30, of Deer Park, was an officer at the 102nd precinct in Queens. New York broadcast station ABC7NY said her husband is also a NYPD detective.

“Rest in Peace NYPD Officer Emilia Rennhack,” Nassau County Executive, Bruce Blakeman, said in a Facebook post. “Officer Rennhack was sadly killed by a drunk driver in Suffolk County. Let us remember her service and sacrifice on behalf of our safety.”

Another Facebook user said Rennhack was getting ready 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 upcoming 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 co-workers of NYPD Officer Emilia Rennhack, whose life was taken far too soon by drunk driver while 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 additional victims of this accident, and their loved ones in your prayers.”

Customer who was injured at nail salon said ‘God saved her’: Reports

A 20-year-old girl who was a customer at Hawaii Nail & Spa is currently recovering from injuries she sustained from the crash. 

Her aunt, Virginia Garcia, told CBS News that her niece  is “lucky to be alive.” 

"The lady that was sitting next to her died. So she was more nervous because when she saw that the other lady died, she was like, God saved her life, basically ... She's lucky that she's alive, actually," 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 the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.