Car crashes into building in Long Island, NY: How many casualties and what do we know so far?

In Deer Park on Long Island, New York, law enforcement authorities and first responders amassed around a strip mall after reports and images of a car crashing into a building began to circulate. The location has been reported as 796 Grand Boulevard in Deer Park, which corresponds to a nail salon, Hawaii Nail & SPA.

What we know so far

Initial reporting by ABC7 states four people were killed and nine injured after the vehicle hit the building on Friday afternoon. The van used penetrated the entire length of the building, explaining the high casualty count in such a small area.

One of the first videos to circulate after law enforcement had arrived on the scene was posted by X user with the handle Francis Mpu, tagging various local news stations about a road closure on Deer Park Avenue between Commack Road and Tanger Road and the presence of police cars and fire trucks.

The driver’s motivation is unknown and will form part of the police investigation. However, the fact that a nail salon was hit raises questions about similarities to an attack on the same type of business in early 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.

*This developing story will be updated as law enforcement provides information on the situation.*