Driver arrested, charged with DWI in fatal Deer Park nail salon crash
DEER PARK, Long Island (WABC) -- LATEST DETAILS HERE
Police say the 64-year-old driver who plowed an SUV through a Long Island nail salon, killing four people and injuring nine others, was drunk.
Steven Schwally of Dix Hills has been charged with DWI, and additional charges are pending against him.
The horrific crash happened at a Deer Park strip mall Friday just after 4:30 p.m., when authorities say Schwally drove a 2020 Chevy Traverse clear through Hawaii Nail & Spa. The victims who were killed were all inside the store, and died at the scene.
Authorities say Schwally was driving at a high rate of speed through a parking lot on Commack Road. He then crossed Grand Boulevard and plowed into the front entrance of the nail salon.
"Somebody saw that the man was driving and he came from this parking lot from Kohl's and he was trying to pass somebody, and then they pretty much ran right into the nail salon and you could hear people screaming and yelling," said witness Danielle Tanis.
Several others remained hospitalized Saturday. Schwally was hospitalized as well with non-life-threatening injuries.
Deer Park Fire Department Assistant Chief Dominic Albanese described a nightmarish scene at the nail salon, with some victims trapped inside.
"It's horrible, it's going to be tough for the community ... tough for the volunteer fire department, but we're going to get through it. (It's) just a horrible thing to see especially at this time of the year with all the good things happening, graduations and what not," Albanese said in a news conference Friday evening.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene at the shopping center on what had been a normal Friday afternoon of shopping and running errands.
"Somebody saw that the man was driving and he came from this parking lot from Kohl's and he was trying to pass somebody, and then they pretty much ran right into the nail salon and you could hear people screaming and yelling," said Danielle Tanis.
There is a gaping hole outside of Hawaii Nail Salon and Spa, and inside there are mangled pedicure chairs.
"Yesterday I did my nails. Look, yesterday I did my manicure and pedicure," said a stunned customer, Valerie Fisher.
"My heart dropped because life is so fragile. Life is so so fragile," added Fisher.
Surviving friends and relatives are now left to cope with unbearable pain.
One man Eyewitness News spoke to identified himself as the nail salon owner's brother. He says his sister was married to the other owner, a couple that customers say they love.
"They were really really nice. Really nice people," said Teresa Specht.
The victims' names have not yet been released.
----------
A Dix Hills man has been arrested and charged with DWI in connection to a deadly crash on Long Island.
Four people were killed and nine were injured when a 2020 Chevy Traverse crashed into a nail salon in Deer Park.
Officials say the 64-year-old Steven Schwally drove through the strip mall business, Hawaii Nail and Spa, on 796 Grand Boulevard around 4:30 p.m. Friday.
"It's horrible, it's going to be tough for the community...tough for the volunteer fire department, but we're going to get through it...just a horrible thing to see especially at this time of the year with all the good things happening, graduations and what not," said Deer Park Fire Department Assistant Chief Dominic Albanese.
There is a gaping hole outside of Hawaii Nail Salon and Spa - inside there are mangled pedicure chairs.
"Yesterday I did my nails. Look, yesterday I did my manicure and pedicure," said customer Valerie Fisher.
Assistant Chief Albanese said there were people trapped inside the salon.
"We extricated them and transported them to area hospitals," he said.
The driver was taken to the hospital and was partially conscious.
"Somebody saw that the man was driving and he came from this parking lot from Kohl's and he was trying to pass somebody, and then they pretty much ran right into the nail salon and you could hear people screaming and yelling," said Danielle Tanis.
Outside, police were talking to possible witnesses.
There is pain and devastation of the surviving friends and relatives. One man identified himself as the nail salon owner's brother. He says his sister was married to the other owner - a couple, customers say they love.
"They were really really nice. Really nice people," said Teresa Specht.
All four people who were killed were inside the salon.
"My heart dropped because life is so fragile. Life is so so fragile," added Fisher.
The victims' names have not yet been released.
There is no word on what exactly caused the driver to lose control and crash.
ALSO READ | MTA stops construction on Second Avenue subway amid congestion pricing pause
----------
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
