4 dead after minivan collides with nail salon on Long Island

Four people were killed and nine injured when a minivan slammed into a Long Island nail salon Friday afternoon, authorities said.

Just after 4:30 p.m., a minivan crashed into the Hawaii Nail and Spa on Grand Boulevard in Deer Park, a hamlet in the town of Babylon, N.Y., according to Mark Stone, spokesman for the Deer Park Fire Department. One injured person was in serious condition Friday evening and was flown by helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital, he said.

The others suffered “serious injuries,” Stone said, and were taken to local hospitals.

Suffolk County police are investigating the cause of the accident, he said.

Nine emergency responders, including fire departments from surrounding cities, responded to the accident. A total of 150 firefighters and paramedics were on the scene, Stone said.

“We come, we pick up the pieces, we clear the crime scene,” he said.

Hannah Hardt, manager of a pet store across the street, said she saw about 10 ambulances nearby and two helicopters circling over the salon. Grand Boulevard was blocked off for several blocks around the salon Friday night, and about two dozen police officers were still on the scene shortly before 8 p.m.