Donald and Liscent Maxwell Death Obituary- Southern State Parkway Head-On Crash: Elderly Couple Killed By Alleged Drunk Driver
A tragic wrong-way crash on Long Island has left two lives lost and a community in mourning.
It happened late Sunday night near Exit 17S on the Southern State Parkway in Hempstead. Police say a westbound Cadillac Escalade, driven by 36-year-old Diana Kutateladze, sideswiped a vehicle before crossing into eastbound lanes and striking multiple cars.
The most severe impact came in a head-on collision with a Toyota Highlander carrying Donald and Liscent Maxwell. He was 82. She was 88. Both died at the scene.
Altogether, ten people in six vehicles were caught in the chain-reaction crash. Several were hospitalized, including one individual listed in critical condition overnight, while others sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities believe excessive speed and suspected impairment played a role. Kutateladze was taken into custody following treatment at a hospital and now faces a series of felony charges, including vehicular homicide and driving while intoxicated.
The crash shut down a stretch of the parkway for hours as investigators worked through the night.
Those who knew the Maxwells remember them as kind, engaged neighbors whose sudden loss is deeply felt. The family will release obituary, memorial, funeral, and visitation details at a later time. Pending that information, some details in this report remain subject to change, and updates will be provided as more facts are confirmed.