Emilia Rennhack, Off-Duty NYPD Officer Among Four Killed in Long Island Nail Salon Crash

A tragic incident unfolded in Deer Park, Long Island, on Friday evening as a drunk driver crashed into Hawaii Nail & Spa, resulting in four fatalities and injuring at least nine others. Among those who lost their lives was Officer Emilia Rennhack of the NYPD, as confirmed by sources to News 4.

The collision occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Grand Boulevard, where Steven Schwally, 64, was apprehended for driving under the influence. Suffolk County officials reported that Schwally’s speeding minivan plowed into the salon with such force that it nearly exited through the opposite side, according to statements from Deer Park Assistant Fire Chief Dominic Albanese.

Tragically, four individuals, including three women and one man, were pronounced dead at the scene. Officer Emilia Rennhack’s identity was confirmed among the deceased by law enforcement authorities. Nine others sustained injuries, some severe, with emergency responders extricating trapped individuals from the wreckage before transporting them to nearby medical facilities.

Eyewitnesses recounted seeing the minivan speeding through a nearby parking lot and maneuvering around a stationary vehicle at a traffic light before colliding with the salon while attempting to negotiate a turn onto Grand Boulevard.

Law enforcement officials have yet to ascertain whether the crash was intentional or the exact number of occupants inside the minivan during the incident. Details regarding the ages of the victims were not immediately disclosed, and it remains uncertain if children were among those affected by the tragedy.

Approximately 150 firefighters and emergency medical service personnel swiftly responded to the scene, underscoring the extensive efforts made to provide aid to the victims and manage the aftermath of the devastating collision.

The investigation into the crash remains ongoing as authorities endeavor to uncover additional details surrounding the sequence of events that led to the tragic incident at Hawaii Nail & Spa in Deer Park. Community members and officials alike mourn the loss of life and express solidarity with those affected by this heartbreaking event.