If we accept the case that she is an alcoholic (I think the alcoholism is moot at this point), then you're trying to tell me that a seasoned alcoholic who has presumably been drinking heavily for years, gets this messed up after some vodka and weed? [19] On August 18, Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore said that no charges would be filed in the incident, because Schuler was the only person responsible for the deaths. Diane Schuler, a 36-year-old . "The lengths these people are taking to deny reality are just astounding and painful to my clients," Irving Anolik, attorney for the Bastardis, told the News. Credit: www.alcoholproblemsandsolutions.org. #inline-recirc-item--id-d466033c-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-d466033c-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { Hance reportedly told Schuler to stay off the road, while he came to meet them; follow-up calls from Hance to Schuler were not answered. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son The red Ford minivan hurtled down the fast lane of the northbound Taconic State Parkway in Mount Pleasant but it wasn't going north. In fact, she had been observed carrying on an extended conversation while ordering her food and orange juice. [43] The Bastardi family said that if DiFiore did not convene a grand jury, they would seek support in the matter from the state attorney general and the governor. I believe diane had some major medical pain that day. Schuler's family, including her husband, Daniel Schuler, blamed her bizarre behavior . Two men who saw the accident said that they saw a large, broken Absolut Vodka bottle in the van when trying to pull Schuler out of the car. [27] The proposal became known as Leandra's Law following the October 2009 death of 11-year-old Leandra Rosado, a passenger in a vehicle whose driver was drunk. All the conspiracies about this financier, Is Diane going to die? According to the New York Post, Daniel Rother, Dianes husband, is suing the state and Warren Hance, Dianes brother, claiming that they were responsible for the crash that killed eight people. More research is needed to learn more about its causes and possible treatments. The two occupants of the Tracker suffered only minor injuries. Really sad and the denial in the family is even sadder. But the tragedy changed that perception. Thats an absurd theory. It features a woman who speeds down the West Side Highway in the wrong direction before crashing and killing herself, her daughter and her two nieces, and another family in another car. The woman's 5-year-old son survived. Andrew Cunanan went across the country on a killing . So she calls her brother again, says shes not feeling well and cant see and will wait for him. Diane Schuler her two children and three nieces did not get any chance to survive the crash. Diane's son survived the accident with several injuries and the passengers in the Tracker suffered minor injuries. "[37] Their lawyer called Daniel's position totally outrageous, an insult to the intelligence of the American public, and a hoax. Please comment on the post. It could also be due to an imbalance in the body, or an infection that has affected the body. Whats your thoughts? The medical examiner reported that Diane Schuler's blood alcohol content was .19 percent, more than twice the legal limit. When the body goes through a massive trauma such as Diane did in the car accident, the body cells release a high amount of potassium. Police believe that the car was stopped in a pull-off area beyond the Tappan Zee Bridge tollbooths for at least part of this call. [51], In September 2009, the syndicated talk show Dr. Phil broadcast an episode about drunk-driving moms that focused heavily on Schuler and the crash. The pain wasnt going away. August 6, 2009 - Crash Mom's Husband: "I Would Marry Her Again Tomorrow", August 5, 2009 - Despicable! I totally agree with Mary, the big question is why? November 24, 2009 8:26pm. He remained hospitalized for several weeks before returning home in early October. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. ABS can affect any age group, though the majority of cases are found in people who have a genetic disposition to it. Daniel Schulers insistence that his wife was not intoxicated at the time of the collision has drawn criticism, especially from the families of the victims in the Trailblazer. display: none; [41] In October 2009, DiFiore faced accusations from both Dan Schorr (a Republican challenger for her office) and a Bastardi family attorney that she had mishandled the Schuler case by neglecting to initiate a grand jury investigation into the crash. During the ride home, Schuler stopped with the children at a McDonalds and Sunoco gas station in Liberty. Click to reveal They were required to include Hance in the suit as he was the owner of the van. .14 - .19 The "good feelings" of euphoria begin to give way to some negative feelings such as anxiety and restlessness. Schuler, her daughter, and two of her nieces were declared dead at the scene. The end cap needs a bit of editing for clarification; you can indeed drive with a minor in the car but its a felony to so while intoxicated. As you can draw from the preceding story of the Diane Schuler Accident, a reconstruction of events is essential to determine the cause of the tragedy. [50] The Child Passenger Protection Act was signed into New York law on November 18, 2009. I have read police reports and autopsy reports and read the book by Jackie Nance the 3 little girls mother. In response to Schorr's comments, DiFiore responded, "Is he suggesting that there was criminal evidence of a crime committed by someone and we wouldn't pursue it? Excessive alcohol consumption can cause physical and social problems in people with ABS. Colombia wants to deport "cocaine hippos" to stop them from multiplying [36], Daniel's persistence in disputing his wife's intoxication and drug use was condemned by relatives of the three Trail Blazer victims. Recommended. [12] According to a police report, Schuler was seen by witnesses at approximately 11:45 a.m. by the side of the road with her hands on her knees, as if vomiting; she was seen again in the same position a short time later, north of the Ramapo-Sloatsburg rest stop. Someone like this would need to self medicate. I believe Danny and diane had some kind of disagreement that morning. Diane Schuler: Wrong Way Taconic Crash. 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It also fits both of their ridiculous theorys like the abyss causing a stroke. It was inconceivable for her to divorce after the damage shed seen herself as a child so maybe she decided that shed rather take the children to heaven with her than leave them to be reared by Daniel. "The autopsy supports the claims of over 50 Diane Schuler's friends and family members who have never once seen this woman drunk," investigator Thomas Ruskin told the Daily News Saturday. [2] A toxicology report released on August 4 by Westchester County medical examiners found that Schuler had a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.19%, with approximately six grams of alcohol in her stomach that had not yet been absorbed into her blood. Trending News If this was a standard ugly crash - fine, I totally buy it. } [31] Daniel and Barbara announced plans to exhume Diane's body in order to perform the hair test and other examinations; other experts said that this test was unlikely to produce any new information, as tests from two separate labs had come to identical conclusions. This was a mentally unstable woman who did a great job of hiding it, had problems in her marriage, had reached a tipping point, and wanted to keep "control" by making sure her children didn't grow up without her. These lives passed instantly when the crash happened. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. [25][26] The campground co-owner, who had gotten to know the Schulers well, had seen them off at approximately 9 a.m. that morning, and stated that Diane appeared to be sober. "The scientific evidence indicated that Diane Schuler was intoxicated at the time of the crash," the statement read. The Bastardi family would file a lawsuit against Daniel Schuler and Warren Hance seeking unspecified damages for wanton, willful, and reckless conduct. The 2009 Taconic State Parkway crash was a traffic collision that occurred shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2009, on the Taconic State Parkway in the town of Mount Pleasant, near the village of Briarcliff Manor, New York, United States. "[20][27] According to Tom Ruskin, a private investigator hired by Daniel's lawyers, none of the McDonald's employees had seen anything in Schuler's behavior to suggest that she was intoxicated. The children were not in seat belts or car seats at the time of the collision. [35], In September, a New York forensic pathologist[who?] Her niece would later die at the hospital while Bryan would be the only survivor from Schulers van, sustaining broken bones and severe head trauma. The pain of the abscess, combined with vodka and marijuana, could have put her in a temporary state of delirium that triggered her fatal behavior. Trigger Warning: This Case Includes ChildrenLinks:https://linktr.ee/murderwithmyhusband Case Sources:HBO - There's something wrong with Aunt Dianehttps://en.. Two hours before Diane Schuler drove the wrong way on an upstate parkway, killing herself and seven others, a motorist saw someone who looked and dressed like her doubled-over on the side of the . That eye is closed and the mouth is down on that same side. So then what to do? [21] According to Barbara, Schuler was obese for much of her life and suffered from diabetes, although additional sources[which?] [45][46] On December 10, the Bastardi family filed suit against Diane and her brother, Warren Hance, seeking unspecified damages for wanton, willful, and reckless conduct. As mentioned by the source, Diane was driving a red 2003 Ford Windstar that belonged to her brother. Gut fungi produce ethanol as a result of fermented carbohydrate consumed by them. SHE DROVE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY FOR TWO MILES. Surveillance Clip Summary: Surveillance video showing Diane Schuler at a gas station before she caused a wreck that killed eight people. "[42] DiFiore won re-election in November. He was a child , not a husband. Weschester officials confirmed a hair follicle test hadn't been conducted, and one said that such tests typically weren't used in accident investigations. If youre a massive true crime stan, do sign upfor our newsletter. NEW YORK (CBS) Diane Schuler, the suburban New York mother who died in a wrong-way crash that killed three other adults and four children in July, was twice seen doubled over on the side of the road, "getting sick," witnesses told state police investigators in documents released to CBS affiliate WCBS. She had drunk an excessive amount of vodka, had high blood pressure, THC levels, and was unable to provide food for herself, all of which point to her drinking excessively for the purpose of wasting time. In June 2010, New York State Police released their final report of the incident, which confirmed that Diane Schuler was highly intoxicated by alcohol and marijuana at the time of the collision. [10][19][20][21] The legal BAC limit for driving while intoxicated in New York is 0.08%. Diane was highly controlled and did drink and smoke at least occasionally, and manage to function. A devastating multi-car crash from 2009 gets some clarity with a fresh look at psychological profiling and behavioral analysis. Alcohol is produced in this condition by normal gut fermentation. [22] The Westchester County medical examiner's office, which had performed the autopsy, commented that the chemical degradation of the fluid samples over time was likely to result in lowered alcohol and THC readings; however, several toxicology experts[which?] The autopsy report rules out a heart condition or problems with Schuler's brain, such as an aneurysm or stroke. [2] The crash was the worst fatal motor vehicle crash to occur in Westchester County[3] since July 22, 1934, when a bus crash in Ossining claimed twenty lives. The three men in the Trailblazer: 81-year-old Michael Bastardi, his 49-year-old son Guy, and their friend, 74-year-old Dan Longo were also declared dead at the scene. [16][17] Within the next minute, four more 9-1-1 calls were placed by motorists who reported that a car was traveling the wrong way down the parkway, going approximately 7585 miles per hour (121137km/h). The passengers of the Tracker, however, got away with minor injuries. After a few years of having watched it about 3 times and reading everything on it, I think Ive come up with what I believe happened. A final autopsy report shows Diane Schuler was drunk -- and there was no evidence of other medical conditions that explain the deadly crash. Adults with Crohns disease have a greater risk of developing this problem. The Trailblazer would then struck a 2002 Chevrolet Tracker. Brian Schuler was the only survivor of the crash. Some aspects of Diane Schuler's story may remain a . At 9:30am on July 26, 2009, Diane Schuler loaded up her two children (ages five and two) along with her brothers, Warren Hance, three daughters (ages eight, seven, and five) into her brothers red 2003 Ford Windstar and left the Hunter Lake Campground to start the journey to West Babylon, New York. She was drunk driving. 2009 traffic collision in Mount Pleasant, New York, required by state law to include Hance in the suit, List of traffic collisions (2000present), "Wrong Way Tragedy: Supporting First Responders", "Wrong Way Tragedy: Shock, Mystery Still Linger", "Wrong Way Tragedy: First Responders Look Back", NY Police: Woman Was OK at Restaurant Before Crash, "A Week after the Crash, Questions Remain, Driver in deadly Taconic crash Diane Schuler was drunk, had marijuana in system, "Taconic-Crash Mom Drunk, High, Tests Reveal, "Alcohol and Phone-Call Details in Wrong-Way Crash, "Driver Spoke on Phone with Brother 25 Minutes Before Fatal Crash, "Investigators Reconstruct a Route That Led to 8 Deaths, "Bad Omens, a Fateful Turn, and 8 Lives Lost, "Wrong-way Turn onto Taconic Puzzles Many, "Child's Helpless Eyes Haunt Ossining Firefighter, "Diane Schuler, Wrong-Way Highway Driver Who Killed 8, Had 10 Drinks, Was High, "All Reported Normal Before Woman's Fatal Wrong-Way Drive, "Husband: Wrong-way Driver Didn't Drink. The fiery July 26 crash on the Taconic Parkway killed Schuler, her 2-year-old daughter, three young nieces and three men in the SUV. said, "[It] might have been an embolism". Warren Hance, father of three victims and brother of mom, comes out of the church at the funeral for Emma, Alyson and Kate Hance and Diane and Erin. This is a family who is trying desperately (almost to the point of irrationality) to preserve her imageOR, more likely, to deflect any potential legal or financial responsibility from themselves. Some mysteries, however, start when we know the end and wonder, how did we get here? Or, at least, this is the case with Diane Schuler and the horrific and tragic 2009 Taconic State Parkway crash that had claimed eight lives, including Schulers own. Schuler, her daughter, three nieces and three men from Yonkers in the SUV were killed in the collision. However, it is generally believed that this condition may be more likely to occur in individuals who have a history of gastrointestinal problems, such as Crohns disease or celiac disease. By Fiona Roberts. and our C'mon. [13], At about 1 p.m., another call was made to Hance from Schuler's cell phone. I have a feeling that she found out that Daniel and Jay were having an affair and she confronted him about it that weekend. On July 26, 2009, 36-year-old Diane Schuler drove the wrong way down the Taconic State Parkway in New York. As a result of this reaction, the affected individuals blood alcohol content (BAC) rises. / CBS News. Hendersonville, NC 28792, Crescent Beer Company Acquires Straub Brewery, Firestone Walker Stands By Its Decision To Donate To Trump, Cooking With Beer: Discover The Best Types Of Meat To Pair With Your Favorite Brews, Is Carlsberg Beer Good For Your Health? In the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, 74-year-old Dan Longo, 81-year-old Michael Bastardi, and his 49-year-old son Guy were killed instantly. The investigator Tom Ruskin, suddenly dropping outvery strange and suspicious. Daniel eventually raised the money to retest the samples taken during Dianes autopsy along with new samples taken during the exhumation of Dianes body. There was a lot of contention around Dianes drug and alcohol use. The collision occurred after the troubled West Babylon resident drove south for 1.7 miles in the northbound lanes of the . Schuler herself then talked to Hance and said that she was disoriented and could not see clearly. The husbands callous behavior tells an a bigger story. }, First published on November 10, 2009 / 2:05 PM. November 10, 2009 / 2:05 PM This also drew criticism saying that a grand jury investigation into the crash should have been opened. In July 2011, Jackie Hance, who lost her three daughters in the crash, filed suit against Daniel, her brother-in-law. At the end of the documentary, over the phone, Ruskin states that he had called Jay months previously with the results and that she refused to pick up her phone. [49] By July 2014, all lawsuits by all parties were either settled or dropped. After removing Schuler from the van, the two men saw a large, broken Absolut Vodka bottle by the driver's side. : They got on Route 17/Interstate 86 and the New York Thruway (Interstate 87), Ramapo-Sloatsburg service area, and crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge, heading east. The auto-brewery syndrome has gained a lot of attention in recent years as a result of news reports and case studies. Having watched the documentary, I think Diane was in deep emotional painmuch more than she ever let on. There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane: Directed by Liz Garbus. Donate today. Diane Schuler was a 36-year-old Long Island woman who tragically killed herself and seven others in a fiery wrong- way car crash on the Taconic State Parkway in New York in 2009. Many of the symptoms are similar to those of a person who has been extremely drunk: dizziness, erratic behavior, slurred speech, irritable bowel syndrome, belching, and chronic fatigue. She was described as a protective mothers helper and the best mothers assistance ever. Her sister-in-law . I WANT TO KNOW WHY! She drank more. Sad, horrific ending with too many innocent victims. Archer, who works for the family of victim Daniel Longo, said the documents confirm much of what Schuler's husband Daniel refuses to discuss: his wife Diane was a pothead. Traces of THC in her body suggested that she had smoked marijuana as recently as 15 minutes before the crash. Antibiotics, in addition to interfering with the guts natural microbiome, can cause yeast overgrowth. This documentary explores the depth behind the case of a woman whose vehicle collision killed numerous people, including herself. Relatives of the mother of two have decried allegations she had substance abuse problems. [24][37][38] When Daniel appeared on CNN's Larry King Live to demand more testing of his wife's remains, Longo's brother, Joseph, issued a statement saying, in part, "I want Daniel Schuler to know that he keeps inflicting more pain on all concerned once again [by] going to the media to try [to] paint a picture of a perfect wife and mother. [24] Daniel also intended to have the fluid samples from Diane's autopsy re-tested. The backseat was occupied by two young children, one aged seven and the other five. Bryan was the only survivor of the crash. Schuler, her daughter, and three of her nieces died at the scene of the crash, along with the three men in the TrailBlazer: 81-year-old Michael Bastardi, his 49-year-old son Guy, and their friend, 74-year-old Dan Longo. Let's also consider the evidenceshe drove perfectly to a McDonald's, rest stop, etc., had the cohesion to use her phone and make a call, but somehow cannot recognize the fact that she is driving on the wrong side of the highway, and does so perfectly straight without any swerving, etc. This is when the calls from motorists started coming in about a red minivan driving erratically: aggressively tailgating, flashing headlights, honking the horn, moving in and out of lanes. She's seen becoming visibly ill. She gets shitfaced to work up the courage and to offer a reason for the crash as an accident vs a simple suicide. Her body was severed at the waist and her legs were found several feet away from her torso. She really couldnt see. On July 26, 2009 Diane Schuler killed herself and seven others when she drove the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway. The Journal News. "Yes, the body will be exhumed," attorney . I have never before witnessed or heard of an alcoholic get so messed up that they lose control or cohesion to this extent. An independent investigator hired by the Schuler family obtained DNA testing and toxicology re-testing of Schuler's samples, and confirmed the results of the original testing. In 1934, a bus on its way from Brooklyn to Sing Sing prison in Ossining, New York drove off an embankment and plunged into a ravine. . Her husband, Daniel Schuler, consistently denied that she used drugs or alcohol "excessively", and made multiple national media appearances to defend his late wife and call for further investigation into other possible medical causes for her erratic driving. Due to the fact that Diane died, however, Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore said that charges died with her. He also reported a high level of THC , the active ingredient of marijuana. According to a toxicology report released by Westchester County medical examiners on August 4, Schuler had a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.19%, with approximately six grams of alcohol in her stomach that had not yet been absorbed into her blood. The Unsolved UK Podcast Diane Schuler/Taconic Parkway, Unsolved 13th Apr 2019 1 Minute. I do not have a medical license and dont claim to but I have been in the medical field my entire career. The drive takes about 40 min, but she's gone for over an hour when her brother called. There is a chance that auto brewery disease or gut fermentation syndrome will cause health problems in addition to lifestyle issues. Four children and four adults were killed in the wrong-way crash; Diane Schuler%27s blood-alcohol level was double the legal limit; The Schuler family has denied she was drunk and high On that bright sunny day 10 years ago, families were shattered in a fiery crash that killed . "It makes me angry that he keeps denying it," said Margaret Nicotina, Bastardi's daughter. The autopsy report, prepared by Dr. Aleksandar Milovanovic of the Westchester County medical examiner's office, describes Diane Schuler's body and her injuries in grotesque -- but makes no mention . The autopsy report, prepared by Dr. Aleksandar Milovanovic of the Westchester County medical examiner's office, describes Diane Schuler's body and her injuries in grotesque -- but makes no mention of a tooth abscess, a lump on her leg or diabetes - three medical issues cited by her family's attorney as potential causes of the crash. Youtube Diane Schuler and her husband Daniel on their wedding day. display: none; He wants the truth. Diane Schuler was cut in half when she was hit by a train while crossing a tracks. The Incident. Schuler, a 36-year-old Long Island mother of two, was at the wheel, drunk and high, headed south at 70 mph in the northbound lane. [44], Following a request from the Bastardi family that an administrator be appointed for Diane's estate so that a lawsuit could be filed, Daniel officially declined the role in November 2009, leaving it to a county-court judge to appoint a public administrator. [29][30] He also pointed to autopsy results that showed an absence of organ damage often found in chronic alcoholics, although an uninvolved medical examiner noted that such results cannot rule out alcohol abuse. Margaret Nicotina, Bastardis daughter, said, Every time he does it, he brings it back for us. Heres everything to know about the lead-up to the tragic event and the questions that still plague many to this day. It is a medical condition in which the stomach produces an abnormally high amount of ethanol after eating a meal high in carbohydrates. It was to help with some major pain that she didnt expect . Because the children had come to rest in a pile together, the men did not notice Schuler's son, Bryan, lodged under another child. ", "Wrong-Way Crash: "Diane Would Not Do This, "Victims' Families Express Revulsion at Schuler's TV Appearance, "Taconic Mom Drank But Was No Drunk: Hubby Changes Story, "Driver Said to Have Used Marijuana Regularly, "Family of Victims in Deadly Taconic crash Support Gov. Warren Hance spoke with his eldest daughter Emma on that terrifying phone call in the days following the tragedy. She apparently never stopped doing things. The foundation's central project is Beautiful Me, a self-esteem program designed to educate girls by promoting appreciation for their genuine qualities, accurate self-awareness, and the satisfaction of helping others. Eight people were killed in the fatal accident. [9][18] Bryan was the only passenger of Schuler's vehicle to survive, suffering from broken bones and severe head trauma. [55], There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane, directed by Liz Garbus for HBO Documentaries, establishes a timeline of events prior to the crash. In her blackout she drove straight ( she thought) home to get there before anyone else but I think her real anger and pain took over and she ended up killing everyone in her deep pain. The van traveled south for 1.7 miles (2.7km) in the parkway's northbound passing lane before colliding head-on, at approximately 1:35 p.m., with a 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer, which then struck a 2002 Chevrolet Tracker. At 9:30am on July 26, 2009, Diane Schuler loaded up her two children (ages five and two) along with her brother's, Warren Hance, three daughters (ages eight, seven, and five) into her brother's red 2003 Ford Windstar and left the Hunter Lake Campground to start the journey to West Babylon, New York. You may begin feeling tired because the depressant qualities of alcohol begin to take effect. [22] On November 7, Ruskin announced that the Schuler family had raised enough money to re-test Diane's tissue samples, and that the re-testing would "soon" take place. Daniel eventually admitted that he and his wife had, in fact, consumed alcohol during the camping trip; he denied that Diane had had anything to drink on the day preceding the crash. Taconic death-driver Diane Schuler's family is seizing on autopsy results as proof she wasn't an alcoholic - even though they show she was drunk and stoned. A person not used to drinking daily would not have the ability to drink the amount Diane had in her system when she died. Six grams of alcohol remained in her stomach yet to be absorbed into her bloodstream. Forensic investigator Michael Archer told WCBS, "We'll never know why she did this. "Diane Schuler died in the crash and the charges died with her," DiFiore said. An autopsy report concludes that there were no heart problems or brain issues in the deceased. Was there a lot of pain she experienced? The occupants of a third . [56] In the documentary, Daniel and Barbara claim they gave a private investigator, Tom Ruskin, $30,000 to conduct an independent investigation and to re-test samples. This makes it illegal to drive with a minor under the age of 16 in the car. Bacteria in the colon spend a lot of time in the gut, which is an important part of the digestive system.