March 18, 2026
A 36-year-old Oceanside woman is facing aggravated vehicular homicide charges after allegedly driving drunk and going the wrong way on the Southern State Parkway Saturday night, causing a six-vehicle pileup that killed a beloved church leader and his wife.
A 36-year-old Oceanside woman is facing aggravated vehicular homicide charges after allegedly driving drunk and going the wrong way on the Southern State Parkway Saturday night, causing a six-vehicle pileup that killed a beloved church leader and his wife in the Town of Hempstead.
Diana Kutateladze was behind the wheel of a 2020 Cadillac Escalade around 10:13 p.m. on March 15 when the SUV sideswiped a BMW traveling in the left lane near Exit 17S, according to New York State Police. The Escalade then spun out, crossed the center median, and continued moving in the wrong direction — directly into oncoming eastbound traffic.
Bishop Donald Maxwell and Wife Liscent Killed in Nassau County Collision
The Escalade slammed head-on into a 2016 Toyota Highlander carrying Bishop Donald Maxwell, 82, and his wife Liscent B. Maxwell, 88. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Bishop Maxwell served as general overseer of Pentecostal City Mission Church in Far Rockaway. His wife Liscent was a reverend at the same church. Their community is now mourning the sudden loss of two pillars of their congregation.
Ten People Involved in Chain-Reaction Crash Near Hempstead
In total, ten people across six vehicles were caught up in the violent chain-reaction collision. One additional person sustained critical injuries, while the remaining victims were treated for what State Police described as minor injuries.
Kutateladze was traveling at approximately 70 mph at the time of the crash, and her blood alcohol content registered at .10 — above New York's legal limit of .08, according to investigators.
Charges Filed Against the Driver
Kutateladze has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, first-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree assault, driving while intoxicated, and reckless driving. She pleaded not guilty at her arraignment.
What This Means for Long Island Commuters
Wrong-way crashes on Long Island parkways remain a recurring and deadly problem. The Southern State Parkway, which runs through Nassau County's most populated areas, sees heavy traffic at all hours. This latest incident adds urgency to ongoing calls for better median barriers and wrong-way detection systems on aging Long Island roadways. Nassau County officials and safety advocates have long flagged the need for infrastructure improvements across the region's most heavily traveled corridors.
Source: New York State Police, NBC New York, ABC7, Greater Long Island
