Drunk Driver Who Downed 18 Beers Crashes Into Nail Salon In Long Island, Killing 4, Injuring 10

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. -- The man accused of driving while intoxicated and crashing into a nail salon on Long Island, killing four people, appeared in court Monday.

Steven Schwally, 64, is charged with DWI. The charges are expected to be upgraded.

Meizi Zhang, 50, Yan Xu, 41, Jiancai Chen, 37, and off-duty NYPD officer Emilia Rennhack, 30, were all killed in Friday's crash. Ten other people, including a 12-year-old girl and Schwally, were hospitalized.

Authorities say Schwally, of Dix Hills, was behind the wheel of his 2020 Chevy Traverse when it barreled through the parking lot and slammed into Hawaii Nail and Spa. Prosecutors detailed the seconds leading up to the crash, saying Schwally:

"Accelerated at a high rate of speed."
"Drove in the opposite lane of travel."
"Nearly struck pedestrians."
"Continued through the intersection, went airborne" into the packed nail salon.
In the criminal complaint, prosecutors say when Schwally was interviewed after the crash he had "bloodshot and glassy eyes," as well as slurred speech and "a smell of alcoholic beverage emanated from his breath."

Prosecutors claim Schwally said he had 18 beers the night before and stopped drinking at 3 a.m. The results of a blood-alcohol test are pending.

Schwally appeared in court Monday in a wheelchair and wearing hospital clothes. He was previously convicted of DWI 10 years ago. He lives at a motel, but is looking for a residence, his attorney said.

Schwally is being held on $1 million bail.