New York, June 30: In a tragic incident on Friday, NYPD Officer Emilia Rennhack, 30, was among four people killed when an allegedly drunken driver crashed his minivan into a Long Island nail salon. The driver, identified as Steven Schwally from Dix Hills, reportedly lost control of his vehicle, smashing into the salon and trapping people inside.
Rennhack, a six-year NYPD veteran, had stopped at the salon to get her nails done for a fellow officer's wedding later that night. Schwally was allegedly driving aggressively and shouting at people before the crash, sources said. US Shocker: Man Makes False Call to 911, Ambushes and Kills Two Police Officers in Deadly Encounter; Video Surfaces.
The crash also injured nine others, including a 12-year-old girl. Officials have not yet publicly identified the other victims, reported NYPost.
Rennhack, who married fellow officer Det. Carl Rennhack in September, was remembered as a compassionate and kind individual. "His wife was his life," a police source said of the grieving husband. Photos on social media show a radiant Emilia in her wedding gown, embracing her groom. US Shocker: Woman Caught on Camera Poisoning Husband’s Coffee With Bleach, Strikes Plea Deal to Avoid Prison.
Rennhack’s mother-in-law, Holy Rennhack, expressed her heartbreak: "My daughter-in-law was a wonderful woman. She was very special. My son is very distraught right now."
The crash left the salon in ruins, with pieces of the ceiling collapsed, shattered glass strewn about, and pedicure chairs displaced.
The Police Benevolent Association mourned Rennhack's death, calling it a "tragic loss" and asking for prayers for her family, friends, and coworkers. The Det. Simonsen Foundation, which the Rennhacks supported, also expressed deep sorrow, vowing to remember Emilia and support Carl through this devastating time.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 30, 2024 08:21 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).