Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
Diana Kutateladze, 36, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, to charges stemming from a deadly wrong-way crash on the Southern State Parkway that killed two people over the weekend. The defendant was wheeled into her arraignment at Hempstead court in a wheelchair, according to ABC7 New York.
Prosecutors say Kutateladze was driving 70 mph with a blood alcohol content of .10 when she caused the fatal collision on Sunday night in Lakeview. The legal limit for blood alcohol content is .08, making her level above the legal threshold. According to prosecutors, Kutateladze admitted to having a whiskey and coke before getting behind the wheel of her vehicle.
The crash occurred when Kutateladze crossed the center median of the Southern State Parkway and began driving in the wrong direction, authorities say. She then slammed into several vehicles traveling in the correct direction on the parkway. The impact killed a couple in their 80s and injured several other people involved in the multi-vehicle collision.
Kutateladze is now facing several serious charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide, in connection with the deadly crash. During her Tuesday arraignment, she was held without bail and had her driver’s license suspended. Her physical condition requiring the use of a wheelchair suggests she may have also sustained injuries in the collision, though the extent of her injuries was not specified by authorities.
The fatal accident adds to the ongoing concerns about wrong-way driving incidents on Long Island’s major roadways. The Southern State Parkway, a heavily traveled east-west route through Nassau and Suffolk counties, has been the site of numerous serious accidents over the years. Sunday night’s crash represents one of the more severe incidents, with the loss of two lives and multiple injuries resulting from the high-speed, wrong-way collision.
The victims, described only as a couple in their 80s, have not been publicly identified pending family notification. Several other motorists were injured in the crash, though the specific number of injured parties and the severity of their injuries were not detailed in the initial reports. The multi-vehicle nature of the collision suggests the wrong-way driving incident created a chain reaction involving multiple cars traveling on the parkway at the time.
Location & Road Context
The crash occurred on the Southern State Parkway in Lakeview, a hamlet in Nassau County. The Southern State Parkway is a major east-west thoroughfare that runs through both Nassau and Suffolk counties, serving as a critical commuter route for Long Island residents. The parkway connects to numerous other major roadways and serves thousands of vehicles daily.
According to Long Island Traffic records, the Southern State Parkway has 131 recorded incidents in the database, indicating it is a roadway that frequently experiences various traffic-related issues. Recent incidents on the parkway have primarily involved roadwork operations, including crack sealing and overnight construction projects, though the specific dates of these incidents were not available in the system records.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The Nassau County District Attorney’s office is prosecuting the case against Kutateladze, with prosecutors presenting evidence of her elevated blood alcohol content and admission to drinking before driving. The charge of aggravated vehicular homicide is among the most serious driving-related charges in New York State, typically reserved for cases involving impaired driving that results in death.
The decision to hold Kutateladze without bail reflects the severity of the charges and potentially the flight risk assessment made by the court. Her suspended license is standard procedure in cases involving serious driving offenses, particularly those involving fatalities and impaired driving. The investigation into the crash likely continues as authorities work to reconstruct the sequence of events and gather additional evidence for the prosecution.
Broader Impact
Aggravated vehicular homicide charges in New York can carry significant prison sentences, with Class B felony convictions potentially resulting in up to 25 years in prison for cases involving multiple deaths while driving under the influence. The case highlights the severe legal consequences that can result from impaired driving decisions, particularly when they lead to fatal wrong-way collisions on major roadways like the Southern State Parkway.