Hempstead, NY (March 16, 2026) — A devastating six-car chain-reaction crash on the Southern State Parkway claimed the lives of two elderly residents and left several others injured Sunday night. New York State Police have arrested 36-year-old Diana Kutateladze of Oceanside in connection with the fatal incident.
The collision occurred at approximately 10:00 p.m. near Exit 17S (Hempstead Avenue). According to state troopers, Kutateladze was driving a 2020 Cadillac Escalade westbound when she sideswiped a gray BMW in the left lane. The impact caused her to lose control of the heavy SUV, which then vaulted over or through the center median into oncoming traffic.
The Escalade struck multiple vehicles in the eastbound lanes, including a catastrophic head-on collision with a 2016 Toyota Highlander. The occupants of the Highlander, Donald Maxwell, 82, and Liscent B. Maxwell, 88, sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. One other victim remains in critical condition, and several others were transported to local hospitals with varying degrees of injury.
Kutateladze was taken into custody and faces a litany of serious charges, including Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, 1st and 2nd degree Vehicular Manslaughter, and Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).
Multi-Vehicle Accident in New York
The legal repercussions of a crossover collision involving a suspected intoxicated driver are among the most severe in the New York justice system. Under New York Penal Law § 125.14, Aggravated Vehicular Homicide is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 25 years in prison. This charge is triggered when a driver, while intoxicated, causes a fatality and exhibits additional reckless factors—such as a high blood alcohol content (BAC) or a history of prior traffic offenses.
In terms of civil liability, New York follows a “No-Fault” insurance system for medical expenses, but that system does not apply to wrongful death or serious injury lawsuits. For the Maxwell family, a Wrongful Death and Survival Action allows for the recovery of damages, including funeral expenses and the “distributive value” of the victims’ lives.
Crucially, in a multi-vehicle crash like this, the investigation will focus on the Escalade’s “black box” (Event Data Recorder) to determine the exact speed and braking patterns at the time of the median crossover. Because this was a crossover event, the liability typically rests 100% with the vehicle that left its lane of travel. An experienced NY multi-vehicle accident attorney helps ensure that all forensic evidence from the six vehicles is preserved, as multiple insurance policies may be triggered to compensate the high number of victims involved in this tragedy.
If you or a loved one has been affected by this collision or any DWI-related accident on Long Island, contact Stanley Law Office at 888-997-3889 for a free, private consultation. We are here to help you navigate this traumatic time and fight for the justice your family deserves.
