Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Crash at Long Island nail salon kills 4, including off-duty NYPD officer

The Suffolk County Police Department on Friday released the identities of the four people killed when an SUV crashed into a Long Island nail salon.

Jiancai Chen, 37, of Bayside, Queens; Emilia Renhoek, 30, of Deer Park; Yan Xu, 41, of Flushing, Queens; and Maisie Zhang, 50, of Flushing, Queens, were killed, the Suffolk County Police Department said in a statement Saturday.

Nine people including a 12-year-old girl were injured in the accident.

Customers and employees were inside Hawaii Nail & Spa on Grand Boulevard in Deer Park when an SUV crashed through the front window, police said.

One of the victims, Renhag, was a New York City police officer who was getting her nails done at the time of the accident.

Emilia Renhag.NYPD PBA

He was an officer in the 102nd Precinct in Queens. A spokesperson for the New York City Police Department confirmed his death on Saturday.

The NYC Police Benevolent Association said it was “heartbroken” over Renhag’s death.

“Please join us in praying for his family, friends and colleagues,” the association said Facebook registration.

All the 4 victims died on the spot. Nine other people aged between 12 and 58 years were injured.

Four people are being treated at area hospitals for serious but non-life-threatening injuries, and five others are being treated at hospitals, police said.

The driver, Steven Swaley, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He has been hospitalized and will be questioned later, the department said on Saturday.

Authorities allege he drove a Chevrolet Traverse southbound at a high rate of speed through the parking lot as he crossed Grand Boulevard and continued through the nail salon’s parking lot before crashing through the window.

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