Two people are dead and one person has been arrested for allegedly causing a multi-vehicle crash on the Southern State Parkway.
On March 15 at approximately 10:13 p.m., New York State Police responded to the Southern State Parkway westbound, west of exit 17S, in the Town of Hempstead for reports of a multi-vehicle collision.
Upon arrival, troopers observed multiple vehicles disabled in the eastbound lanes. A preliminary investigation revealed that the operator of a 2020 black Cadillac Escalade, Diana Kutateladze, 36, of Oceanside, with one other passenger, was traveling westbound on the Southern State Parkway when her vehicle allegedly sideswiped a gray BMW traveling in the left lane.
Kutateladze allegedly subsequently lost control of the vehicle, crossed the center median and continued traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes, striking multiple vehicles. The Escalade then struck a 2016 black Toyota Highlander head-on.
A total of six vehicles and ten people were involved in the collision. During the incident, two passengers in the 2016 black Toyota Highlander — Donald Maxwell, 82, and Liscent B. Maxwell, 88 — were pronounced dead. Several other drivers and occupants involved in the crash were transported to local hospitals. One individual sustained critical injuries, while the remaining injuries are considered non-life-threatening.
Preliminary investigations indicated speed and impairment were contributing factors to this incident.
Kutateladze was arrested and charged with the following:
- Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (a Class B Felony)
- Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree (a Class C Felony)
- Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a Class D Felony)
- Assault in the Second Degree (a Class D Felony)
- Driving While Intoxicated
- Reckless Driving
This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who witnessed this incident or has video footage is asked to contact Investigator Jeffrey Shillingford with the New York State Police at 212-814-9597.