An Oceanside woman accused in a wrong-way crash on the Southern State Parkway that killed a church pastor and his wife has pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges on March 17, authorities said.
Diana Kutateladze, 36, was arraigned in Nassau County District Court and ordered held without bail in connection with the March 15 crash. She faces charges including aggravated vehicular homicide, first- and second-degree vehicular manslaughter, assault, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.
According to newly filed felony complaints, Kutateladze admitted to drinking alcohol before the crash and registered a blood alcohol content of 0.10 percent, above the state’s legal limit of 0.08 percent.
The crash occurred at around 10 p.m. on the west side of the parkway in Malverne. State police said Kutateladze was driving a 2020 Cadillac Escalade at 70 mph when she sideswiped another vehicle, lost control and crossed the center median into eastbound traffic.
Her vehicle struck multiple cars before colliding head-on with a 2016 Toyota Highlander near Exit 17S, authorities said.
Two passengers in the Highlander — Donald Maxwell, 82, and Liscent Maxwell, 88, both of Westbury — were pronounced dead at the scene. The couple was longtime leaders of the Pentecostal City Mission Church in Far Rockaway and was returning home from a church event at the time of the crash, according to friends and parishioners.
Investigators said troopers at the scene detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Kutateladze and her vehicle. She was taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital with facial injuries, where she allegedly told authorities she had consumed a mixed drink of whiskey and cola prior to driving.
A preliminary breath test administered at the hospital just before midnight indicated a blood alcohol content of 0.10 percent, according to the criminal complaint filed by state police investigator Jeffrey Shillingford. Authorities said Kutateladze later consented to having her blood drawn.
Kutateladze’s husband, Teimurazi Kutateladze, who was a passenger in the Escalade, remains in critical condition. He suffered extensive injuries, including a cervical spine fracture, internal brain bleeding, multiple broken bones and lacerations, all requiring surgery, according to court documents.
The driver of the Highlander, Victor Wilson, also sustained serious injuries, including fractures to his arm, wrist and pelvis that required surgery.
In total, six vehicles and 10 people were involved in the crash. Several other individuals were takento area hospitals with injuries described by authorities as non-life-threatening.
Kutateladze, who identified herself on social media as a DOJ-accredited immigration attorney, is married and has three young children.
The crash prompted authorities to shut down the parkway between Exits 15 and 17 for seven hours overnight as investigators processed the scene and crews cleared debris.
The investigation is continuing.
