Shocking new video shows deadly Long Island nail salon crash
DEER PARK, N.Y. -- Shocking new video shows in detail the moment when an SUV slammed into a nail salon on Long Island, killing four people.
Meizi Zhang, 50, Yan Xu, 41, Jiancai Chen, 37, and off-duty NYPD officer Emilia Rennhack, 30, were killed in the crash at the Hawaii Nail and Spa in Deer Park on June 28. Ten other people, including a 12-year-old girl and the driver of the SUV, were hospitalized.
The surveillance video, which was posted to the salon's Instagram account, shows the scene outside the spa, starting just a few moments before the crash. A man can be seen exiting a neighboring business. On the video, you can see and hear the 2020 Chevy Traverse roaring toward the salon as it crosses Grand Avenue. The car gets airborne as it hits Grand Avenue and hurtles across the parking lot, and crashes loudly into the nail salon.
Nearly two weeks after the devastating crash, Steven Chen said life for him and his family will never be the same. Not only did he lose his brother Jincai, a co-owner of the salon, his talented sister-in-law, Wen Jun, remains in critical condition.
Chen said Wednesday he got a call from the hospital at 5 a.m.
"They found the bleeding internally, so they asked my permission and I said, yes, go ahead. My older sister and me, we wake up and run to the hospital," he said.
Driver charged with DWI
Steven Schwally, 64, was arrested in the crash. So far he has only been charged with DWI, although additional charges are expected. He's due back in court on July 19.
In the caption on their Instagram post, the spa's account asks "Drunk driving? Or was it intentional murder?"
According to the criminal complaint, Schwally had "bloodshot and glassy eyes," slurred speech and "a smell of alcoholic beverage emanated from his breath" when police interviewed him after the crash. He allegedly told police he had 18 beers the night before and stopped drinking at 3 a.m.
"He has to pay for what he did. I don't think just drunk driving," Chen said, adding he wants to see the charges upgraded.
Schwally has a prior DWI conviction from 10 years ago. He's being held on $1 million bail. His next court date is on Friday.
