6-car crash on Southern State Parkway kills 2 people in their 80s, driver arrested for DWI, N.Y. State Police say
Two elderly people are dead and a driver faces homicide and DWI charges after a major crash on the Southern State Parkway Sunday night, New York State Police said.
Ten people and six vehicles were involved in the fatal accident on Long Island, which occurred at around 10:15 p.m. Sunday in the westbound and eastbound lanes by Exit 17S in Hempstead, state police said.
The crash shut down the highway for several hours overnight.
What investigators say happened
According to a state police preliminary investigation, Diana Kutateladze, 36, of Oceanside, was allegedly drunk and speeding when she lost control of her 2020 Cadillac Escalade after sideswiping a gray BMW in the left lane on the westbound side.
Kutateladze's Escalade then crossed the center median and struck multiple oncoming cars in the eastbound lanes, including a head-on collision with a 2016 Toyota Highlander, police said.
Video from the scene showed a significant emergency response and vehicles mangled in the wreck.
The eastbound lanes did not reopen until around 5 a.m. Monday, but a westbound lane that was blocked off reopened earlier.
Crash victims identified
Donald Maxwell, 82, and Liscent B. Maxwell, 88, who were in the Highlander, were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Several more drivers and passengers in other vehicles were hospitalized, including one with critical injuries, according to officials.
There were tears and hugs outside the Maxwell family home in Westbury after the identification was made. Relatives told CBS News New York they were too shaken to speak.
Driver in hospital
Kutateladze was hospitalized after the crash and set to be arraigned there Monday afternoon.
She is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, 1st degree vehicular manslaughter, 2nd degree vehicular manslaughter, 2nd degree assault, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.
A male passenger was also in Kutateladze's car, but it was not immediately clear what his condition was, officials said. His name has not yet been released.
Kutateladze, a mother of four, works in immigration law, according to her online profile and neighbors.
State police said the investigation was ongoing and urged witnesses or anyone with video of the crash to contact them at 212-814-9597.
