Marine Vet Drank '18 Beers' Before Deadly Nail Salon Crash: Reports

DEER PARK, NY — The driver of a vehicle that plowed through Hawaii Nail & Spa in Deer Park, killing 4 unsuspecting people and hospitalizing nine others with serious injuries, told prosecutors he drank 18 beers the night before and continued drinking till 4 a.m., Newsday reported.

Steven Schwally, 64, of Dix Hills drove the SUV at high speed through the parking lot in front of 421 Commack Road, 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, Suffolk County police said.

According to multiple reports, Schwally was still drunk at the time of the crash, which killed NYPD officer Emilia Rennhack, 30, of Deer Park, Jiancai Chen, 37, of Bayside, Queens, Yan Xu, 41, of Flushing, Queens, and Meizi Zhang, 50, of Flushing, Queens.

In addition, the tragedy seriously injured Nicole Miele, 54, of Dix Hills, Ana Garcia, 53, of Bay Shore, Wen Jun Cheng, 35, of Bayside, Queens, and Michael Mehale, 58, of Deer Park, Carol Garcia, 23, of Bay Shore, Toni Saccente, 32, of West Islip, Krystal Rodriguez, 37, of Bay Shore, Nicole Saccente, 55, from Cape Coral, Florida, and a 12-year-old girl whose identity is being withheld, police said.

According to ABC7, Schwally had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and smelled like alcohol at the time of his arrest. The outlet also reported that he consented to a blood test and the results are still pending.

Schwally, a Marine veteran reportedly living at the Motor Inn in Commack, according to ABC7, pleaded not guilty to DWI charges and is being held on $1 million cash bail.

Hundreds of people gathered Monday evening to mourn the tragedy at the demolished, and now boarded-up nail salon.

Officer Rennhack's husband, NYPD Detective Carl Rennhack, attended the vigil with the support of friends and family who stood close to him as his tears flowed.

Detective Rennhack struggled to find the words to honor his wife when Patch spoke with him. He was too distraught to speak through his tears.

Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer spoke to the crowd, assuring grieving community members that "justice will be served" to ensure that the victims "didn't die in vain."

Funeral arrangements have been set for Officer Rennhack, according to the NYC PBA. Visitation will take place Friday, July 5 from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the New Hyde Park Funeral Home, located at 506 Lakeville Road in New Hyde Park. A funeral service will take place on Saturday, July 6 at noon, at the New Hyde Park Funeral Home.