Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
An Oceanside woman has been indicted on multiple felony charges including aggravated vehicular homicide following a fatal wrong-way crash on the Southern State Parkway in March that killed two pastors and injured several others. Diana Kutateladze, 36, was allegedly driving her 2020 Cadillac Escalade westbound on the Southern State Parkway in Malverne at approximately 10:15 p.m. on March 15, 2026, when she crossed into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on into a vehicle carrying an elderly couple, according to prosecutors.
The deadly sequence began when Kutateladze allegedly sideswiped a BMW near exit 17S while traveling at a high rate of speed with her husband in the front passenger seat, prosecutors say. After the initial contact with the BMW, Kutateladze’s Escalade then jumped over the center guardrail into the eastbound lanes, putting her vehicle directly in the path of oncoming traffic. The SUV crashed head-on into a 2016 Toyota Highlander carrying 82-year-old Donald Maxwell in the front passenger seat and 88-year-old Liscent “Barbara” Maxwell in the rear passenger side seat.
The impact was catastrophic, with the Highlander’s passenger side crushed on impact, killing both Maxwell passengers instantly, according to prosecutors. Donald and Liscent Maxwell were pastors at the Pentecostal City Mission Church in Far Rockaway. The 71-year-old driver of the Highlander sustained serious injuries including fractured ribs and a compound fracture of his hand that required surgery and the insertion of metal hardware. The driver also suffered a significant heart injury that requires ongoing treatment and monitoring.
Kutateladze’s husband was critically injured during the crash and became trapped in the passenger seat of their vehicle. First responders worked to extricate him from the wreckage before transporting him to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, where he was placed on a ventilator to survive. He suffered multiple broken bones and significant head trauma resulting in a brain bleed, prosecutors said. He required insertion of a titanium plate to stabilize his midsection and remained hospitalized for more than a month after the crash.
The defendant was treated at Nassau University Medical Center for minor injuries. Blood drawn from Kutateladze at the hospital revealed her blood alcohol concentration was allegedly .15% approximately one hour after the crash, nearly twice the legal limit. According to the vehicle’s crash data recorder, Kutateladze was allegedly driving 81 miles per hour five seconds before the crash on a stretch of parkway with a 55-mile-per-hour speed limit.
The head-on collision triggered a chain reaction that caused a five-car pile-up on the parkway. Three other vehicles crashed into the wreckage, leaving those drivers with injuries ranging from whiplash and back pain to trauma that will likely require knee surgery. The collision shut down part of the Southern State Parkway for several hours while emergency crews worked to extricate victims and remove debris from the roadway.
Kutateladze was arrested on March 16, 2026, by the New York State Police. On April 24, 2026, she was arraigned before Judge Howard Sturim on grand jury indictment charges including two counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (a Class B felony); Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree, two counts of Manslaughter in the Second Degree and Aggravated Vehicle Assault (all Class C felonies); two counts of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree and Vehicular Assault in the First Degree (all Class D felonies); two counts of Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree (a Class E felony); four counts of Assault in the Second Degree (a Class D violent felony); Driving While Intoxicated Per Se (a Class E felony); five counts of Assault in the Third Degree (a misdemeanor); and Driving While Intoxicated and Reckless Driving (both unclassified misdemeanors).
“A husband and wife who spent their lives serving the community are dead because this defendant allegedly drove drunk instead of just staying home,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “Her actions turned a quiet Sunday evening into a scene of absolute chaos, resulting in a horrific five-car pileup. My office is committed to seeking justice for the Maxwells and we will work to hold the defendant fully accountable for the lives she destroyed.”
Location & Road Context
The crash occurred on the Southern State Parkway in Malverne near exit 17S, a stretch of highway that has recorded 323 incidents in traffic databases. The Southern State Parkway serves as a major east-west artery across Nassau and Suffolk counties, connecting communities from the Queens border to the Hamptons. The parkway carries heavy commuter and recreational traffic, particularly on weekend evenings when the crash occurred.
Recent incidents on the Southern State Parkway have included multiple roadwork operations and various crashes, highlighting the ongoing challenges of maintaining traffic flow and safety on this heavily traveled route. The parkway’s design, with concrete center barriers in most sections, makes wrong-way crashes particularly devastating when vehicles manage to cross into oncoming traffic lanes.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Kutateladze pleaded not guilty to all charges during her April 24 arraignment and was remanded to custody. She is scheduled to return to court on May 20, 2026, for her next appearance. If convicted on the most serious charges, she faces up to 8-1/3 to 25 years in prison.
The investigation utilized the vehicle’s crash data recorder to determine Kutateladze’s speed in the moments before impact, providing crucial evidence of her alleged reckless driving. The blood alcohol test results, taken approximately one hour after the crash, will likely serve as key evidence in the prosecution’s case against the defendant.
Broader Impact
The case highlights the severe penalties under New York law for vehicular crimes involving intoxication and multiple fatalities. Aggravated vehicular homicide charges carry some of the stiffest sentences in the state’s criminal code, reflecting the legislature’s recognition of the devastating impact drunk driving crashes have on families and communities. The extensive list of charges against Kutateladze demonstrates how prosecutors can pursue multiple theories of criminal liability when a single incident results in multiple victims with varying degrees of injury.