'Drink driver' accused of downing 18 pints before smashing car into nail salon killing four

A Long Island man has been arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated after authorities say he crashed his SUV into a nail salon , killing four people and injuring nine others, police said Saturday.

Suffolk County Police said Steven Schwally, of Dix Hills, had been speeding through the parking lot when he drove his SUV through the front window of Hawaii Nail & Spa in Deer Park at around 4:30 p.m. Friday.

The salon was open and conducting business at the time of the crash, police said. Fire officials responding to the crash said Schwally was semiconscious when his vehicle came to stop nearly at the back of the store, which is located in a strip mall. A prosecutor at the arraignment said Schwally had 18 beers and stopped drinking at 4 a.m. Friday, WABC reported.

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Spokespersons for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the police department said they did not have contact information for his lawyer.

Three women and a man were pronounced dead at the scene. Eight females and one man were transported to hospitals, at least two of them with serious injuries, police said. One of the injured victims was a 12-year-old girl. The remaining were all adults, police said.

Schwally was transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening. Suffolk County police identified the dead victims as Jiancai Chen, 37; Yan Xu, 41; Meizi Zhang, 50 — all from Queens — as well as Emilia Rennhack, 30, of Deer Park.

The New York Police Department said Rennhack was stationed at a precinct in Queens and had been on the police force since 2018. “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of Police Officer Emilia Rennhack, whose life was taken far too soon,” Police Commissioner Edward Caban wrote on X: “Our hearts are breaking,” the New York Police Benevolent Association added: “Please join us in praying for her family, friends and coworkers. Funeral arrangements to follow.”

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney’s office said Schwally remained hospitalized as of late Saturday and will be arraigned later. Ten departments and multiple ambulances were called to the scene, according to News 12 Long Islan d . Northwell Health confirmed that three victims were sent to South Shore University Hospital. It was reported the driver suffered a medical emergency however this has not here.

Part of the Grand Boulevard was closed to traffic high-traffic area due to the Tanger Outlets across the street. Others shopping in other businesses on the strip mall were blocked from leaving the parking lot. who were shopping in other stores in the center are reportedly stuck in the parking lot.

Ten departments and multiple ambulances were called to the scene, according to News 12 Long Islan d . Northwell Health confirmed that three victims were sent to South Shore University Hospital. It was reported the driver suffered a medical emergency however this has not here.

Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories.

Part of the Grand Boulevard was closed to traffic high-traffic area due to the Tanger Outlets across the street. Others shopping in other businesses on the strip mall were blocked from leaving the parking lot. who were shopping in other stores in the center are reportedly stuck in the parking lot.

Residents nearby and customers of the salon reacted in horror at the news, with one saying: "I've been going to them for over 10 years. Praying for everyone," one resident shared in the Deer Park community group on Facebook, reports the US Sun.

Another witness at the scene described the sound of the crash as "like nothing I've ever heard before", adding: "Sounded like glass shattering...I disregarded it at first. It’s Friday, and we live in a crazy world and now the police are rolling out tape."