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Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
An 82-year-old Jamaica-born bishop and his 88-year-old wife were killed in a six-car pile-up on the Southern State Parkway in Long Island Sunday night when a drunk driver crossed the median and crashed head-on into their vehicle, according to police reports. The bishop served as general overseer of the Pentecostal City Mission Church in Far Rockaway, Queens, and his wife, a minister in the church, died in the crash that occurred around 10:30 p.m. on the eastbound side of the parkway.
The couple, who lived in Westbury, Long Island, were passengers in a 2016 Toyota Highlander returning from an event when the fatal collision occurred, police said. According to the police report, a Cadillac Escalade driven by 36-year-old Diana Kutateladzo went out of control, crossed the median, and came face to face with oncoming vehicles before crashing head-on into the vehicle carrying the couple. The collision triggered a chain reaction involving a total of six vehicles and 10 people.
Kutateladzo has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, multiple counts of vehicular manslaughter, assault, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving, according to police. Her husband, who was a passenger in the Escalade, remains hospitalized in serious condition. Several other people involved in the crash were treated for injuries, with the majority suffering non-life threatening injuries, police reports stated.
The bishop, who migrated from Jamaica in his teens, had been identified by authorities and friends as a long-time church leader who maintained strong ties to his homeland. Despite leaving Jamaica several decades ago, the island remained close to his heart, evidenced by a message on his church’s website appealing for assistance for Jamaica’s relief and recovery efforts after Hurricane Melissa struck the island last October. “Please help the Pentecostal City Mission Churches in Jamaica to support their communities and rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa,” the message reads. “These resources will be used by the churches to purchase food and supplies for families in their local communities and to support rebuilding efforts.”
News of the couple’s deaths spread quickly through their religious community, with many church members taking to social media to pay tribute to them. One parishioner wrote on Facebook: “Woke this morning to hear you’re not with us. Gone too soon. Can’t believe just spoke to you last Sunday … now you’re no longer going to be here. Condolence to the church family.” The outpouring of grief reflected the couple’s deep impact on their community through decades of religious service.
The Pentecostal City Mission Church, where both victims served in leadership roles, is described on its website as a community of believers that will effectively communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people holistically, irrespective of race, color, gender and economic status. The church’s mission statement underscored the inclusive approach that the couple brought to their ministry work in the Far Rockaway community.
Location & Road Context
The Southern State Parkway, where the fatal collision occurred, is a major east-west thoroughfare on Long Island that connects New York City to Nassau and Suffolk counties. The parkway serves as a critical commuter route and recreational highway, carrying thousands of vehicles daily between Long Island’s suburban communities and the metropolitan area. The eastbound lanes where the crash occurred are frequently traveled by residents returning home from events and activities in Queens and Brooklyn.
The section of the Southern State Parkway where the six-vehicle pile-up took place runs through Nassau County, serving communities including Westbury, where the couple resided. The parkway’s design includes a median barrier system, making wrong-way crashes particularly devastating when vehicles manage to cross into oncoming traffic, as occurred in this incident.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Diana Kutateladzo faces multiple serious charges in connection with the fatal crash, including aggravated vehicular homicide and multiple counts of vehicular manslaughter, according to police. The 36-year-old driver has also been charged with assault, driving while intoxicated, and reckless driving. The comprehensive list of charges reflects the severity of the incident and the multiple victims affected by her alleged drunk driving.
The investigation involves determining the exact circumstances that led to Kutateladzo losing control of her Cadillac Escalade and crossing the median into oncoming traffic. With her husband remaining hospitalized in serious condition, the case represents not only the tragic loss of the two victims but also the broader impact on multiple families affected by the six-vehicle collision.