4 killed in crash into Long Island nail salon include off-duty NYPD officer
The Suffolk County Police Department released the identities of the four people killed Friday when an SUV crashed into a Long Island nail salon.
Jiancai Chen, 37, of Bayside, Queens; Emilia Rennhack, 30, of Deer Park; Yan Xu, 41, of Flushing, Queens; and Meizi Zhang, 50, of Flushing, Queens, were killed, the Suffolk County Police Department said in a release Saturday.
Nine people, including a 12-year-old girl, were injured in the crash.
Customers and staff were at Hawaii Nail & Spa on Grand Boulevard in Deer Park when an SUV crashed through the front window, police said.
Rennhack, one of the victims, was an off-duty New York City police officer who was getting her nails done at the time of the crash.
Emilia Rennhack.NYPD PBA
She was an officer at the 102nd Precinct in Queens. A spokesperson for the New York City Police Department confirmed her death Saturday.
The NYC Police Benevolent Association said its “hearts are breaking” over Rennhack’s death.
“Please join us in praying for her family, friends and coworkers,” the association said in a Facebook post.
All four people killed died at the scene. Nine others, who ranged in age from 12 to 58, were injured.
Four are being treated at area hospitals for serious but not life-threatening injuries, and five others had been treated at hospitals, police said.
The driver, Steven Schwally, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. He remains hospitalized and will be arraigned a later date, the department said Saturday.
Authorities allege he was driving a Chevrolet Traverse southbound at a high rate of speed through a parking lot when he crossed over Grand Boulevard and continued driving through the parking lot of the nail salon before crashing through the window.
Minyvonne Burke
Minyvonne Burke is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News.
Raquel Coronell Uribe
Raquel Coronell Uribe is a breaking news reporter.