The moment an alleged drunk driver slammed into a Long Island nail salon killing four people, including an NYPD officer has been shown in shocking footage captured by surveillance cameras at the strip mall where the horrific crash occurred.
The driver of the vehicle, Steven Schwally, 64, of Dix Hills, New York, appeared in court on Monday. He has so far been charged with DWI with more serious charges expected later.
The salon's owner, Jiancai Chen, 37, together two of his employees Meizi Zhang, 50, and Yan Xu, 41, and an off-duty NYPD officer Emilia Rennhack, 30, were all killed in the crash.Ten others were also injured and taken to hospital.
The footage sees the minivan barreling through the parking lot before it slammed into Hawaii Nail and Spa.
The moment an alleged drunk driver slammed into a Long Island nail salon and killed four people, including an NYPD cop has been shown in shocking footage
The minivan can be seen slamming into the front of the spa on Friday
Defendant Steven Schwally appears for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip, New York York on Monday. Schwally was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated after authorities say he crashed his SUV into a nail salon, on June 28, killing several people and injuring others
The video shows the strip mall from a side view. But even then, the images of the out of control vehicle are fleeting with the car traveling at significant speed, straight into the shop front.A cloud of dust could be seen shooting out from the inside the spa.
Authorities say Schwally, of Dix Hills, was behind the wheel of his minivan when it barreled through the parking lot and slammed into Hawaii Nail and Spa.
Such was the velocity of the 2020 Chevy Traverse, the vehicle managed to travel all the way through the building before getting stuck at the back of the salon which was open and conducting business just before the weekend.
Schwally appeared in court sitting in a wheelchair and wearing hospital clothes. Families of a number of the victims could also be seen sitting close by.
Prosecutors described the crash as having occurred with the driver having 'accelerated at a high rate of speed', and that Schwally allegedly 'drove in the opposite lane of travel, nearly striking pedestrians and that he continued through the intersection, went airborne' as he slammed into the packed nail salon.
Prosecutors said Schwally claimed to have had 18 beers on Thursday night but had stopped drinking at 3am. The results of a blood alcohol test are pending. Heis currently being held on $1 million bail.
Schwally appeared in court sitting in a wheelchair and wearing hospital clothes. Families of a number of the victims could be seen sitting close by
Off-duty NYPD officer Emilia Rennhack, 30, was killed during Friday's crash
Rennhack, 30, had stopped by Hawaii Nail and Spa in preparation for the wedding of another police officer later that night
Jiancai Chen, owner of the Hawaii Nail & Spa salon in Deer Park was also killed in the crash
An employee at the salon, Yan Xu, 41, also lost her life in the tragic crash
The crash left four dead and ten hospitalized after a minivan crashed into the Hawaii Nail & Spa salon in Deer Park on Long Island, New York
Prosecutors say that by the time he was spoken to after the crash he had 'bloodshot and glassy eyes' while his speech was slurred.
'A smell of alcoholic beverage emanated from his breath,' the criminal complaint states, according to CBS News.
This is not Schwally's first time being charged with driving while intoxicated, Newsday reports.
Back in April 2014, he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and had his license suspended.
Schwally's brother Edward also claims he has had more than one prior DUI, recounting how he once drove his brother to probation after he refused to take a Breathalyzer in 2010 or 2011.
The family of the brother and sister of the salon's co-owners, Jencai Chen, who was killed, and his wife Wen Jun, who's in critical condition have set up a GoFundMe to help pay for expenses in looking after their two children, aged 10 and 5.
The spa was the family's sole source of income.
Several customers shared their heartbreak upon hearing about the accident.
'I just lost a friend of mine's son to alcoholism. It's a disease. There's no doubt about that. But don't get in your car and drive. He killed four people - a New York City cop. She's 30 years old, just married in September. My son's a Nassau County police officer, my stepson. I worry every day that he's out there,' local resident Jimmy Punda said.
The minivan ended up right at the back of the nail salon. It took hours to retrieve
Video shows a chaotic scene at the strip mall with a massive police presence last Friday
'They are the greatest people. They are so family-oriented. It's unbelievable. It's sad, and it's a big, big loss,' Mike McClorey from Deer Park, Long Island said.
'My heart is just broken. Just living in the community, and alcohol kills everybody,' one area resident said.
'It's insane. You would never expect this to happen. They were like family to us, and it's just heartbreaking, 'cause you come here to relax, to spoil yourself, to pamper yourself, and this tragedy happens,' added customer Patricia Castillo.
'Losing a member of the NYPD has been especially heartbreaking for the officer's family and her husband, who, as you probably know, works at that same precinct, and they were just recently married,' Congresswoman Grace Meng said.
A candlelight vigil is to be held at the spa on Monday evening.
