Funeral of Emilia Rennhack, NYPD officer who died in an accident at a hair salon in Deer Park

A memorial service for Emilia Rennhack, an off-duty New York Police Department (NYPD) officer who was one of four people killed Friday when a drunk driver crashed into a Deer Park beauty salon, will be held this weekend in New Hyde Park, officials said. New York City Police Benevolent Association.

Rennhack’s family, including her husband, NYPD Detective Carl, will receive visitors from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at the New Hyde Park Funeral Home on Lakeville Road, an NYC PBA spokesman confirmed. Funeral ceremonies will be held at the same place on Saturday at noon.

Rennhack, 30, of Deer Park, was an officer in the 102nd Precinct in Richmond Hill, Queens, where her husband also worked as a detective, police officials said. The couple married last September.

Department files show that Rennhack, or rather Emilia Kowalczyk, began serving in the New York Police Department in January 2018. From May 2019, she served in the 102nd Police Station.

According to the school’s website, Rennhack attended International High School in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, and then John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan.

The impact of the officer’s death and other fatalities could be felt on Sunday both in Queens, where flowers, purple banners and a photo of Rennhack appeared at the police station, and in Deer Park, where a candlelight vigil was planned for Monday.

Signs posted on boards covering the damage caused by the crash, with candles and flowers resting on a ledge and on the ground below, say a vigil is planned at the Grand Boulevard mall on Monday at 7 p.m.

“Join us to honor the victims and survivors of the living room tragedy,” the sign reads.

Also killed in the crash were Jiancai Chen, 37, of Bayside, Yan Xu, 41, and Meizi Zhang, 50, both of Flushing, Suffolk police said. Details about their lives and funeral arrangements were not immediately available.

According to police, Steven Schwally, 64, of Dix Hills, allegedly drove his 2020 Chevrolet Traverse into the front of Hawaii Nail & Spa on Grand Boulevard around 4:30 p.m., Friday. The salon was open and in business at the time of the accident.

Schwally was charged with driving while intoxicated. He was taken to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. He remained in hospital on Saturday, police said, adding that charges would be filed at a later date.

Police said four people were taken to local hospitals for serious but non-life-threatening injuries: 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.

Police said five other people, including a 12-year-old girl, were treated at local hospitals for less serious injuries.

The nail salon is located in a strip mall which is next to the lights and across from Kohl’s mall. The owner of a store adjacent to the nail salon said Sunday that the mall’s locations had reopened.

Police said Schally drove “at a high rate of speed” through the parking lot in front of a Kohl’s and a Stop & Shop store, then crossed Grand Boulevard and continued through a small parking lot in front of a dealership, where he crashed his car through the windshield.

An out-of-control vehicle drove into the store, trapping employees and customers inside, Deer Park Deputy Fire Chief Dominic Albanese said Friday.

Records show Schwally previously pleaded guilty in April 2014 to a charge of driving under the influence, a misdemeanor, after he was arrested by Suffolk police in March 2013. Schwally received a suspended sentence and was suspended driver’s license and was fined $500.

Stay tuned for updates as this story develops