DEER PARK, NY — A Long Island man has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after authorities said he crashed his SUV into a nail salonFour people were killed and nine others injured, police said Saturday.
Suffolk County police said Steven Schwally, of Dix Hills, was driving through the parking lot when he drove his SUV through the windshield of Hawaii Nail. & Spa at Deer Park around 4:30pm Friday.
The salon was open and conducting business at the time of the crash, police said. Firefighters who responded to the scene said Schwally was semi-conscious when his vehicle almost stopped behind the store, which is located in a shopping center.
Spokespeople for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the police department said they did not have contact information for his attorney.
Three women and a man were pronounced dead at the scene. Eight women and one man were taken to hospitals, including at least two with serious injuries, police said. One of the injured victims was a 12-year-old girl. The rest were all adults, police said.
Schwally was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening.
Among the dead was Emilia Rennhack, 30, an off-duty New York City police officer, the police union confirmed on social media Saturday.
The Suffolk County resident was stationed at a Queens police station and had been with the force since 2018, the department said.
“Our hearts are breaking over the tragic loss of our 102nd Pct. Sister PO Emilia Rennhack in an off-duty incident yesterday,” said the New York Police Benevolent Association wrote on the social platform X. “Please join us in praying for her family, friends and colleagues. Funeral arrangements will follow.”
Police Commissioner Edward Caban also expressed his condolences.
“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of police officer Emilia Rennhack, who lost her life far too soon,” he said. wrote on X.
The office of Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Schwally, who remained hospitalized Saturday, will be charged later.