Horrific moment speeding SUV goes airborne and plows into Long Island nail salon, killing four including NYPD officer
New security footage reveals shocking images of a car plowing into a New York nail salon, killing four people and flying through the air seconds before crashing.
Newlywed NYPD officer Emilia Rannhack, 30, and three salon employees were killed when Steven Schwally, 64, crashed through the doors of Hawaii Nail and Spa on Long Island at high speed on June 28.
He reportedly told police he had drunk 18 beers the night before and that he had been charged with driving under the influence.
But the salon, which posted the neighbors’ images online, has called on prosecutors to upgrade the charges.
“How unfair is this?” it demanded in its Instagram post. “We hope the law can punish the murderer severely and he has to pay for what he has done.”
Off-duty NYPD officer Emilia Rennhack, 30, was killed in the crash on Friday
![Horrific moment speeding SUV goes airborne and plows into Long Island nail salon, killing four including NYPD officer 2 Security footage captured the split second the car drove into the salon, narrowly missing a pedestrian and killing four people in the car](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Horrific-moment-speeding-SUV-goes-airborne-and-plows-into-Long.jpg)
Security footage captured the split second the car drove into the salon, narrowly missing a pedestrian and killing four people in the car
The salon’s co-owner, Jiancai Chen, 37, died along with two of his employees, Meizi Zhang, 50, and Yan Xu, 41, while a 12-year-old girl was among 10 others injured.
Chen’s wife, Wen Jun, remains in critical condition in hospital and so far $72,000 has been raised by a Gofundme appeal was launched to help their two children, aged 10 and 5.
There is no slowdown visible in the video as Schwally’s 2020 Chevy Traverse hurtles down the road and into the parking lot before hitting the salon.
Screams can be heard from the salon and customers from the adjacent business run out of their shop to see what has happened.
Prosecutors said the crash occurred because the driver “accelerated at a high rate of speed” and that Schwally said he “drove into the opposite lane and nearly struck pedestrians.
“He drove through the intersection, flew through the air and slammed into the crowded nail salon.”
The car was only stopped at the back of the building after it had destroyed everything in its path.
This is not the first time Schwally has been charged with driving under the influence, Newsday reports.
![Horrific moment speeding SUV goes airborne and plows into Long Island nail salon, killing four including NYPD officer 4 Driver Steven Schwally was taken to the hospital after the crash, but appeared in First District Court in Central Islip, New York, on July 1. He is due back in court on July 19.](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1720662420_275_Horrific-moment-speeding-SUV-goes-airborne-and-plows-into-Long.jpeg)
Driver Steven Schwally was taken to the hospital after the crash, but appeared in First District Court in Central Islip, New York, on July 1. He is due back in court on July 19.
![Horrific moment speeding SUV goes airborne and plows into Long Island nail salon, killing four including NYPD officer 6 Jiancai Chen, owner of the Hawaii Nail & Spa salon in Deer Park, was also killed in the crash](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1720662423_659_Horrific-moment-speeding-SUV-goes-airborne-and-plows-into-Long.jpeg)
Jiancai Chen, owner of the Hawaii Nail & Spa salon in Deer Park, was also killed in the crash
![Horrific moment speeding SUV goes airborne and plows into Long Island nail salon, killing four including NYPD officer 8 A salon employee, Yan Xu, 41, also lost her life in the tragic accident](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1720662426_341_Horrific-moment-speeding-SUV-goes-airborne-and-plows-into-Long.jpeg)
A salon employee, Yan Xu, 41, also lost her life in the tragic accident
In April 2014, he pleaded guilty to drunk driving and had his driver’s license revoked.
Schwally’s brother Edward also claims he’s had more than one DUI before, telling how he took his brother to probation in 2010 or 2011 after he refused to take a breathalyzer test.
“It’s like my worst nightmare coming true,” the brother told The Post.
‘I think it’s terrible when innocent people get hurt.
He also admitted that his brother had a habit of “gossiping about everyone.”
“He could be mean at times,” he added.
“I mean, I feel terrible for him that it finally happened. There’s really nothing I can do for him. It’s out of anyone’s control. It’s in the hands of the court.
“He’s not going to see the light of day. He’s done for. There’s no way to get out of that.”
The nail salon’s customers reacted with shock to the shocking images. Some even demanded a life sentence for the driver.
“I’m so sorry for all that you’ve had to go through,” Christopher Steven wrote. “Hang in there, nail salon ladies. Justice will be done.”
“Oh my god this is insane. They didn’t stand a chance,” Jenny Lynne wrote.
![Horrific moment speeding SUV goes airborne and plows into Long Island nail salon, killing four including NYPD officer 10 Schwally appeared in court in a wheelchair and wearing hospital scrubs](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1720662429_687_Horrific-moment-speeding-SUV-goes-airborne-and-plows-into-Long.jpeg)
Schwally appeared in court in a wheelchair and wearing hospital scrubs
“The sounds of people screaming inside are heartbreaking. My god,” added another.
Rennhack, who had been with the NYPD for six years, had been married to a fellow New York cop for less than a year and was getting her nails done for a colleague’s wedding later that day.
“My daughter-in-law was a wonderful woman,” said her mother-in-law Holy Rennhack.
“She was beautiful. She was very kind. She was very compassionate. She was very special.”
Schwally appeared in court on July 1, where he was remanded in custody on $1 million bail.
He is due to appear in court again on July 19.