DEER PARK, NY – A horrifying scene unfolded in Deer Park, Long Island when a minivan crashed through the front of Hawai Nail and Spa around 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The incident left four dead and nine people injured, all of whom were inside the nail salon at the time of the crash.
According to Assistant Chief Dominic Albanese of the Deer Park Fire Department, the minivan’s trajectory led it deep into the spa, thrusting the vehicle through the salon’s frontage and creating a massive hole in its wake.
Rescue teams were quick to arrive on-site. Passersby watched helplessly as occupants trapped inside the nail salon were extracted and transported to local medical facilities for emergency treatment.
One of the injured individuals, who was partially conscious when responders arrived, was identified as the driver of the minivan. An eyewitness account provided by local resident Danielle Tanis suggested that the driver lost control of the vehicle after trying to overtake someone in the parking lot of a nearby Kohl’s store.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, and the community expressed their grief over the tragic event. Mourning the loss, the salon owner’s brother spoke fondly of the deceased, remembering them as warm and beloved members of the community.
Authorities are yet to release the identities of the victims.