A mourner holds candles during a vigil in memory of those killed at Hawaii Nail & spa in Deer Park, NY
© William Bretzger-Delaware News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Deer Park, NY) – A candlelight vigil was held Monday evening for the 4 people killed, and 9 others injured when a minivan crashed through a nail salon in Deer Park Friday. 64 year old Steven Schwally of Dix Hills, a former U.S. Marine, was allegedly intoxicated when he drove into Hawaii Nail and Spa on Grand Blvd. Rescuers had to free three people stuck underneath the Chevy Traverse stopped in the center of the business.
Police released the names of those killed over the weekend as Jiancai Chen, Emilia Rennhack, Yan Xu, and Meizi Zhang. Rennhack, 30, was an officer with the NYPD. The other three victims worked at the salon.
Schwally allegedly told police that the night before the crash he drank 18 beers, but had stopped drinking around 3 a.m. Officials said police did a blood draw following the crash, but the results have not come back yet.
Shwally showed up at his arraignment in a wheelchair wearing hospital clothes. He’s charged with DWI, but those charges are expected to be upgraded. Bail was set a one-million dollars, he’s due back in court on July 12th.
