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Writer's pictureWenyun Felicia Guo

Tragic Car Crash in Long Island Nail Salon Leaves Four Dead and Nine Injured


Car ran into a nail salon scene

A horrifying car crash occurred in Deer Park, Long Island, when a 64-year-old man, Steven Schwally, drove his SUV into Hawaii Nail & Spa, a salon run by Chinese immigrants, killing four people and injuring nine others on June 28, around 4:30pm. The incident took place when Schwally, allegedly driving while intoxicated, lost control of his vehicle, sped through a parking lot, and smashed through the salon's front window. Among the victims were the salon’s owner and an off-duty NYPD officer.

The four victims who died on the spot included 30-year-old NYPD officer Emilia Rennhack, 37-year-old Jiancai Chen from Bayside, Queens, 41-year-old Yan Xu from Flushing, and 50-year-old Meizi Zhang from Flushing. Officer Rennhack had just finished her shift and was at the salon getting her nails done in preparation for a colleague’s wedding that evening.


30-year-old NYPD officer Emilia Rennhack who died at the scene

The crash also left several others injured, including 35-year-old Wen Jun Cheng from Bayside, 54-year-old Ana Garcia from Bay Shore, and 58-year-old Michael Mehale from Luyuan. Two of the victims are in critical condition due to the severity of their injuries.

Witnesses reported that Schwally was in an erratic and aggressive state before the crash. He was seen speeding recklessly and shouting at others inside the car. Moments before he barreled into the salon, he narrowly missed hitting pedestrians. The impact of the crash was catastrophic—debris scattered across the salon, the ceiling partially collapsed, and furniture was thrown in all directions.


The nail salon before the accident


This incident is not Schwally's first encounter with the law regarding drunk driving. In 2014, he pled guilty to a DUI charge and had his license revoked. His brother revealed that Schwally had been involved in other DUI-related incidents and refused a Breathalyzer test in one case, leading to probation.

The tragic event has left the community in shock as authorities continue to investigate and mourn the loss of innocent lives. Schwally faces multiple charges, including driving while intoxicated, with more charges likely to follow as the investigation progresses.




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