An Oceanside woman is accused of driving drunk at nearly twice the legal limit, speeding at 81 mph and jumping a center guardrail before crashing head-on into another vehicle on the Southern State Parkway, killing an elderly husband and wife who served as local pastors, prosecutors said.
Diana Kutateladze, 36, was arraigned April 24 before Judge Howard Sturim on charges including aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, manslaughter, vehicular assault, assault, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.
She pleaded not guilty and was remanded. Kutateladze is due back in court May 20. If convicted, she faces up to 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison.
Prosecutors said the crash happened at about 10:15 p.m. March 15, when Kutateladze was allegedly driving a 2020 Cadillac Escalade westbound on the Southern State Parkway in Malverne at a high rate of speed. Her husband was in the front passenger seat.
According to the indictment, Kutateladze allegedly sideswiped a BMW near exit 17S, crossed over the center guardrail into the eastbound lanes and slammed head-on into a 2016 Toyota Highlander.
Inside the Highlander were 82-year-old Donald Maxwell and 88-year-old Liscent “Barbara” Maxwell. Prosecutors said the passenger side of the Highlander was crushed, killing both victims instantly.
The Maxwells were pastors at Pentecostal City Mission Church in Far Rockaway.
The 71-year-old driver of the Highlander suffered serious injuries, including fractured ribs, a compound hand fracture requiring surgery and metal hardware, and a significant heart injury that requires ongoing care.
Kutateladze’s husband was also critically injured and trapped in the Escalade. First responders extricated him, and he was taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, where he was placed on a ventilator. Prosecutors said he suffered multiple broken bones, significant head trauma, a brain bleed and required a titanium plate to stabilize his midsection. He remained hospitalized more than a month after the crash.
Kutateladze was treated at Nassau University Medical Center for minor injuries. Prosecutors said a blood test taken about an hour after the crash showed her blood alcohol concentration was allegedly .15%, nearly twice the legal limit.
The head-on crash caused a five-car pileup after three other vehicles struck the wreckage. Other drivers suffered injuries ranging from whiplash and back pain to trauma that prosecutors said will likely require knee surgery.
The Southern State Parkway was shut down for several hours as emergency crews extricated victims and cleared debris.
Prosecutors said the Escalade’s crash data recorder showed Kutateladze was allegedly driving 81 mph five seconds before the crash. The parkway’s speed limit is 55 mph.
Kutateladze was arrested March 16 by New York State Police.
“A husband and wife who spent their lives serving the community are dead because this defendant allegedly drove drunk instead of just staying home,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly said.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James Taglienti of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.
The charges are accusations. Kutateladze is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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