Four dead, 9 injured after minivan plows into Long Island nail salon
Four people were killed and nine others injured when a driver plowed into a Long Island nail salon Friday, police and law enforcement sources said.
The minivan smashed through the Hawaii Nail & Spa storefront at 794 Grand Boulevard in Deer Park just after 4:30 p.m. — trapping customers and employees inside, according to cops and a report.
The vehicle came to rest towards the back of the salon, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, photos show.
The entire glass storefront had been shattered and the ceiling was ripped down in the crash.
“There were people trapped and we extricated them and transported everyone to area hospitals,” Deer Park Third Assistant Chief Dominic Albanese told Newsday. “They were trapped inside. Everybody was inside the salon.”
“It’s horrible. It’s horrible. It can be tough for the community and tougher for the volunteer fire department, but you know we’re going to get through it,” Albanese added.
The nail salon is located in a strip mall on Grand Boulevard near Commack Road that includes a liquor store and a tattoo parlor.
More than 150 firefighters and EMS workers responded to what the Deer Park Fire Department called a “mass casualty event.”
Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, fire officials said. They were all believed to be inside the salon.
Nine others were taken to area hospitals for serious injuries, including one who was airlifted to the hospital, according to fire officials.
The driver of the van is believed to be one of the survivors.
Records show that the van had never received a traffic violation.
The cause of the crash are still under investigation.
This is a developing story. Please check back for more updates.
