A beloved elderly pastor and his wife were killed in a head-on collision involving a drunk driver Sunday night.
In a statement on Monday, the New York State Police announced that a crash on the Southern State Parkway in the Long Island town of Hempstead had taken the lives of Donald Maxwell, 82, and Liscent Maxwell, 88.
The driver who ran into the Maxwells’ black 2016 Toyota Highlander was 36-year-old Diana Kutateladze of Oceanside. Kutateladze was driving a 2020 black Cadillac Escalade with one passenger when she sideswiped a gray BMW and then lost control and crossed the center median, hitting other vehicles before crashing into the Maxwells head-on, killing both, according to New York State Police.
The collision impacted six vehicles and 10 drivers and passengers, authorities added.
The Maxwells were the only fatalities from Sunday night’s crash. While several others were injured, only one victim suffered critical injuries. The remaining victims’ injuries were not life-threatening.
While New York State Police did not elaborate on the Maxwells’ background, a report by NBC New York noted that Donald Maxwell was a pastor at the Pentecostal City Mission Church.
Pentecostal City Mission Church, which has several locations in the United States and worldwide, identifies Bishop Donald Maxwell as its general overseer, according to its website.
The Pentecostal City Mission Church identifies itself as a “community of believers that will effectively communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people holistically, irrespective of race color, gender and economic status” with “progressive productive social, educational and evangelistic ministries tailored to embrace diversity and to enhance the building of the kingdom of God within all societies.”
Tributes from Maxwell’s congregation poured in on social media as news of his death broke. In a Facebook post on Monday, Sherlette Gladden mourned the loss of her spiritual leader, lamenting that he was “gone too soon.”
“Can’t believe just spoke to you last Sunday, now you’re no longer going to be here,” she wrote. “Condolence to the Church Family.”
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Deborah Rudon shared an image of the Maxwells with the song “Oshimiri Atata” by Faith Captain playing in the background. Text on the picture says, “It’s so hard to say goodbye Bishop & Rev. Maxwell, but as you have drawn from the River of Life, may we ever draw from that river until we meet again!”
“In loving memory of our General Overseer, Bishop Dr. Donald Maxwell and his beautiful wife and our beloved mother, Reverend Barbara Maxwell,” she wrote in a message accompanying the picture. “Our hearts are tremendously heavy at this time and the grief runs so deep, but even in our hour of sorrow, we say blessed be the Sovereign will of ALMIGHTY GOD. His way is perfect.”
Rudon’s message concluded with prayers for the Maxwells’ immediate family members as well as the Pentecostal City Mission Church Worldwide. She called on her church community to “stand together in love, and be ready for when the LORD returns or calls us home!” The post included multiple emojis of broken hearts, sad emojis and praying hands.
Kutateladze has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter in the first degree, vehicular manslaughter in the second degree, assault in the second degree, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving. While an investigation into the accident remains ongoing, preliminary investigations have revealed that speed and alcohol played a role in the crash.
According to ABC 7, Kutateladze, who was determined to have a blood alcohol level above the legal limit at the time of the crash, admitted to police that she had consumed Coke and whiskey before getting behind the wheel of the car. Kutateladze, who has been held in custody without bail and had her license suspended, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: [email protected]
