DEER PARK, NY — A man was charged with driving while intoxicated after crashing into a nail salon Friday, killing four people and injuring nine, police said.
According to Suffolk County police, the incident took place at Hawaii Nail & Spa on Grand Boulevard in Deer Park. Steven Schwally, 64, of Dix Hills was driving a 2020 Chevy Traverse southbound at a high rate of speed through the parking lot in front of 421 Commack Road, then crossed over Grand Boulevard and continued through the parking lot of 794 Grand Boulevard, where he crashed the vehicle through the front window of the nail salon, police said.
The salon was open and conducting business at the time of the crash, police said.
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Three women and a man were pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner; nine additional people were transported to local hospitals, police said. Five were transported by ambulance to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip, three were transported by ambulance to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, and one was airlifted via Suffolk County Police helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital, police said.
Schwally was arrested and charged with DWI, police said. He was transported to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and will be arraigned at a later date, police said.
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Newsday reported that the vehicle was out of control and careened all the way to the back of the store.
News12 said officials identified the crash as a “mass casualty” incident.
Suffolk County Legislator Tom Donnelly confirmed the crash in a social media post: “Thoughts and prayers to the innocent patrons and employees involved in the horrific accident at Hawaii Nails on Grand Boulevard. I have been on the scene since the initial call and it is a tragic situation. Thank you to my fellow Deer Park Volunteer Fire Department responders and Chief Dominic Albanese, as well as all the first responders from the neighboring fire and rescue departments and everyone from Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services — heroes on the scene almost immediately and who I know will be there for many, many more hours.”
Added New York State Senator Dean Murray on social media: “Please keep in your prayers, all who were involved in the horrible accident in Deer Park this afternoon . . including all of our first responders who were first on the scene.”
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