The trial of Steven Schwally has opened in Suffolk County nearly two years after prosecutors say he drove drunk through a crowded Long Island nail salon, killing four people and injuring nine others in one of the region’s deadliest impaired driving crashes in recent memory. Surveillance footage and witness testimony are expected to play a major role as jurors examine the moments leading up to the devastating impact.
Prosecutors allege Schwally, now in his mid-60s, was heavily intoxicated on June 28, 2024, when he accelerated his white 2020 Chevrolet Traverse across a parking area and into Hawaii Nail & Spa in Deer Park, Long Island. Authorities say the SUV reached roughly 78 mph one second before smashing through the storefront.
Four people inside the salon were killed, including newlywed off-duty New York City Police Department officer Emilia Rennhack. The violent collision also left several others wounded, among them salon employees and customers, including a 12-year-old girl.
Schwally has pleaded not guilty to charges that include four counts of second-degree murder under New York’s depraved indifference statute. His attorneys argue the crash was caused by a medical issue involving his leg and not intoxication, despite prosecutors pointing to a blood alcohol concentration measured at 0.17 percent less than two hours after the crash.
The Deadly Crash in Deer Park
According to investigators, the crash unfolded shortly after 4:30 p.m. on a busy Friday afternoon along Grand Avenue in Deer Park. Authorities say Schwally had spent hours driving erratically around the area before his SUV tore through the salon without warning.
ALERT: Trial begins for the man who was allegedly drunk and drove his car through a nail salon, killing 4 people, including an off-duty NYPD officer.
Steven Schwally and his lawyer claim he was not actually drunk, but had a “problem with his leg.”
Steven Schwally is being tried… pic.twitter.com/5S5DOvaUg3
— E X X ➠A L E R T S (@ExxAlerts) May 11, 2026
Surveillance footage captured scenes of chaos inside the business as the vehicle burst through the front of the building. Witnesses described hearing an explosive crash before dust, shattered glass, twisted metal, and debris filled the salon.
The victims killed in the collision were salon owner Jiancai Chen, employees Meizi Zhang and Yan Xu, and Rennhack, who had recently married an NYPD detective. Family members later described the salon workers as deeply respected members of the local immigrant community who spent years building their livelihoods on Long Island.
Emergency crews arrived to find the salon destroyed, with victims trapped beneath wreckage and parts of the SUV lodged deep inside the business. Several injured survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals as first responders searched through the debris.
Prosecutors Describe Alleged Drinking Spree
Investigators allege Schwally consumed large amounts of alcohol before the crash and stopped at a nearby liquor store shortly beforehand. Court filings and witness accounts cited by prosecutors claim he purchased alcoholic beverages and continued driving despite appearing impaired.
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Authorities later revealed that Schwally’s blood alcohol level was measured at more than twice New York’s legal driving limit. Prosecutors contend the evidence demonstrates extreme recklessness and supports the depraved indifference murder charges.
During opening statements, prosecutors reportedly described the SUV entering the salon “like a missile,” arguing Schwally ignored obvious risks to the public. They are expected to rely heavily on surveillance footage, crash reconstruction analysis, toxicology evidence, and eyewitness testimony throughout the trial.
Defense Claims Medical Emergency
Defense attorneys do not dispute that Schwally caused the crash, but they reject the prosecution’s claim that intoxication alone led to the collision. They argue he suffered a physical problem with his leg that prevented him from braking before impact.
Schwally appeared in court using a walker as jury selection and testimony began in Suffolk County. His legal team previously declined a plea offer that reportedly would have resulted in a sentence of 22 years to life in prison.
If convicted on the top charges, Schwally could face a maximum sentence of 25 years to life behind bars. The trial is expected to continue drawing major attention across Long Island and New York because of the scale of the tragedy, the graphic surveillance footage, and the loss of an NYPD officer alongside three salon workers whose families are still grieving nearly two years later.