NEW YORK — The drunk driver who killed four people and injured nine others when his SUV rammed a nail salon on Long Island was traveling at 78 mph (125 km/h) at the time of the crash, prosecutors said Thursday. The driver has pleaded not guilty to a host of charges, including murder and motor vehicle manslaughter.
Steven Schwally, 64, filed a plea to a 38-count indictment for the fatal crash on June 28 at the Hawaii Nail & Spa shop in Deer Park.
The Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County, which represents Schwally, declined to comment on the allegations.
Schwally was previously charged with Driving under the influence before the crash in which a off-duty New York Police Department officer and three other people.
Newsday reported that several people injured in the crash were in court Thursday when Schwally was arraigned on the new charges. State Supreme Court Judge Richard Ambro sent Schwally back to jail without bail.
Prosecutors said in court documents that Schwally purchased two 12-ounce bottles of Montebello Long Island Iced Tea at 11 a.m. on the day of the crash.
The cashier who sold him the 42-proof drink told investigators that Schwally, a retiree who previously worked for a private security firm, was a regular customer at the liquor store and always bought the same Montebello Long Island Iced Tea. He paid $13.99 for two bottles.
After making his purchase, Schwally drove around Deer Park until about 4:30 p.m. when he rammed his Chevrolet Traverse into the front of the nail salon, dragging four people underneath the vehicle before crashing into the back of the store, prosecutors said. Investigators determined he was driving 78 mph (125 kph) one second before the crash, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors had previously said Schwally had a blood-alcohol level of 0.17 at the time of his arrest, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.
Schwally “showed a total disregard for public safety and a depraved indifference to human life,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, adding: “The defendant had been drinking all day, we allege.”
A lawyer for Legal Aid described Schwally in his earlier summons as a Navy veteran who had lived in Suffolk County for 50 years. Prosecutors said Schwally had no fixed address and had been living in hotels for more than a year.