Deadly Long Island crash: Drunk driver kills 4, injures 9 others in Deer Park nail salon crash

DEER PARK, Long Island (WABC) — An off-duty New York Police Department officer is one of four people killed in a DWI crash at a Long Island nail salon.

Emilia Rennhack, 30, was assigned to the 102nd Precinct in Queens, where her husband is a detective.

Also killed in the crash were Jiancai “Kenny” Chen, 37, of Bayside, Queens, Yan Xu, 41, of Flushing, Queens, and Meizi Zhang, 50, of Flushing, Queens.

Police say 64-year-old Steven Schwally was drunk when he crashed an SUV into a Long Island nail salon, killing four people and injuring nine others.

Schwally, of Dix Hills, was charged with DWI and additional charges are pending against him.

The crash happened just after 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Deer Park Shopping Center, when Schwally, according to authorities, drove a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse across Hawaii Street. & Spa. The victims who were killed were inside the store and died at the scene.

Authorities say Schwally sped through a parking lot on Commack Road, crossed Grand Boulevard and crashed into the entrance of a nail salon, driving the entire length of the store.

“Someone saw a man driving a car coming from the Kohl’s parking lot. He tried to pass someone and then they all ran straight into the nail salon. You could hear people screaming and yelling,” witness Danielle Tanis said.

Nicole Miele, 54, of Dix Hills, Ana Garcia, 53, of Bay Shore, Wen Jun Cheng, 35, of Bayside, Queens, and Michael Mehale, 58, of Deer Park, are all being treated at local hospitals for serious but non-life-threatening injuries .

Carol Garcia, 23, of Bay Shore, Toni Saccente, 32, of West Islip, Krystal Rodriguez, 37, of Bay Shore, Nicole Saccente, 55, of Cape Coral, Florida, and a 12-year-old girl whose identity is being withheld were all treated at local hospitals for injuries.

Family and friends of the victims showed up Saturday, some wading through piles of rubble to retrieve their belongings. On Saturday evening, the nail salon was boarded up and flowers were left outside.

The Deer Park community is now reeling from this tragedy.

“Kenny was a gentleman, always willing to help people. He never caused anyone any trouble. A soft-spoken guy, just a gentleman – he was my friend,” John Vassallo said.

Schwally was also taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

This isn’t Schwally’s first DWI incident. He pleaded guilty to similar charges in Suffolk County in March 2013.

Schwally was sentenced to probation, fined $500 and had his driver’s license suspended.

Deer Park Deputy Fire Chief Dominic Albanese described the horrific sight at the beauty salon. Several people were trapped inside.

“It’s terrible, it’s going to be hard for the community… it’s hard for the volunteer fire department, but we’ll get through it. (It’s) just terrible, especially this time of year when there are so many good things happening, graduations and stuff like that,” Albanese said at a press conference Friday evening.

There is a huge hole outside Hawaii Nail Salon and Spa and broken pedicure chairs inside.

“I had my nails done yesterday. Look, I got a manicure and a pedicure yesterday,” said stunned customer Valerie Fisher.

“My heart sank because life is so fragile. Life is so fragile,” Fisher added.

Friends and relatives who survived must now face unbearable pain.

One man Eyewitness News spoke with identified himself as the brother of the nail salon owner. He said his sister was married to the other owner, a couple that customers say they adore.

“They were really nice people. Really nice people,” Teresa Specht said.

READ ALSO | Police are looking for a suspect after a woman sunbathing was sexually attacked in Central Park

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