The crash made headline news for days when it was later revealed that Dianne Schuler had a blood alcohol content of 0.19 as well as evidence of marijuana. In the smoldering vehicle and twisted metal scattered along the highway, lay the bodies of eight people. A new report says Diane Schuler was drunk and had marijuana in her during that horrid Taconic Parkway crash that killed eight people. said "People suffer in silence.". Daniel Schuler, who has asked that his wife's body be exhumed, has maintained all along that she was a perfect wife and mother with no alcohol problems. My brother. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. During that call, Hance spoke with one of his daughters, but he never indicated . "She lost touch with reality," he speculated. Diane Schuler, 30 who died in the wrong-way crash on the Taconic Parkway recently seemed under pressure, like work and family were getting to her, said the pal, Sheila, who asked that her last name be withheld. This is due to various witness reports such as: s.19: "The vehicle was staying perfectly in the lane". I would just be a zombie!! Her husband took the family dog in his pickup truck. This book deals with the Bastardi family. On July 26, 2009, Diane Schuler, 36, was driving the wrong way down the Taconic State Parkway in New York when her minivan slammed into an SUV, killing Diane, her young daughter, three nieces, and three passengers in the other vehicle. Ladies Home JournalA page from the . Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Bruno Dekrem. Diane Schuler's family has spent the weeks since the July 26 Taconic Parkway crash offering explanations for the collision and trying to explain away toxicology reports that show the woman's blood . I found the book impossible to put down, and although at present there does not seem to be an end to the story, I still found it very interesting and of course extremely sad. How much and when is anyone's guess. Its a fat soluble drug and can remain in a person's fat cells for weeks. It was written by the wife of the son and brother of one of the deceased males but is done so in third person so that was a strange literary choice. We've received your submission. He died, along with his father, Michael Bastardi, 81, and friend Daniel Longo, 74, all of Yonkers. Around 9:30 a.m. Diane, along with her 5-year-old son Bryan, her 2-year-old daughter Erin, and her three nieces (8-year-old Emma, Emma, 7-year-old Alyson, and 5-year-old Kate) left the camp. Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, Dog Ear Publishing, LLC (August 23, 2011). I always drank vodka at that time of day because it was much less detectable to those around me. Hes facing possible lawsuits for the deaths of several people. The lesson learned, she said, is that mental problems should not be stigmatizing and those who struggle should "feel free to communicate so we can see warning signs. On July 26, 2009, 36-year-old mother of two Diane Schuler drove her mini-van the wrong way on New York's Taconic State Parkway and collided head on with an oncoming vehicle. Diane Schuler was drunk claims sources to New York press today. However justice died with Diane. He said Diane Schuler took the five children in her car that day because everyone trusts her with kids She drives 40 miles an hour.. A 1.75-liter bottle of Absolut was found in Schuler's wrecked Ford Windstar after the fiery July 26 smash-up, which killed her, her 2-year-old daughter, her three young nieces and three Yonkers men in the SUV she hit. Eight people were killed when a minivan being driven by 36-year-old Diane Schuler traveled 1.7 miles (2.7 km) in the wrong direction on the parkway and collided head-on with an oncoming SUV. "But that was an impossible way to live and to be human at the same time.". Eileen K. McKeough, 69, of Torrington, CT, passed away unexpectedly, Sunday, October 5, 2013 after being stricken at the home of her brother, Joe in Stony Creek. This is the story of the infamous Taconic Parkway crash but if you're reading this review then you already knew that. The film, which will air every Monday night until Aug. 15., portrays the 36-year-old "super mom" as a control freak haunted by a dark past: Her mother abandoned Schuler when she was 9. I think she took one the last night of the camping trip, or maybe had been taking them, and the Ambien caused the confused fugue state she ended up in which could be the reason she drank from the vodka bottle. If he knew his wife was a heavy drinker or a functioning alcoholic, why did he let her drive a van full of kids? When Diane was 9, her mother abandoned the family; her father raised four kids. Michael Realmuto of the state police. The whole 4 hour torture ride goes on and Diane is supposedly sick. A 1.75-liter bottle of Absolut was found in Schulers wrecked Ford Windstar after the fiery July 26 smash-up, which killed her, her 2-year-old daughter, her three young nieces and three Yonkers men in the SUV she hit. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. to us that she told him Schuler had been drinking or smoking, Chiumento said. Schuler was canonized by her family, who challenged the autopsy results, and vilified by those who called her a reckless drunk and even a "scumbag.". The Hances were a working class suburban clan, and Diane's dad began to rely upon his daughter to care for her siblings, and the house, and meals. The story of Diane Schuler is a sobering account of how dangerous the hidden life of functional addiction can be. Schuler had entered the highway on an exit rampway and drove two miles in the wrong lane. Life Story Memory Board Duane H. Schuler An eye opener for all. Just like everyone else, this is news to us . Weve updated the security on the site. Dad gets up early and leaves with the dog. Small children, because they are so tied to . Schuler was also killed, along with her 2-year-old daughter Erin. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. "We are awaiting autopsy reports and toxicology reports.". "She never talked about it, almost like she wasn't even there.". "Wrong way Mom Drunk and High". My wife did not even know that I drank at that time of day. The Long Island mother was driving home from a camping trip when she got on the Taconic and drove nearly two miles in the wrong direction before plowing head-on into an SUV. Friends may call on Eileens family from 12-2 pm, Thursday, October 10, 2013 at Alexander-Baker Funeral Home, 3809 Main Street, Warrensburg. Diane's niece died in the hospital . I know this family wants justice. Comment. Indeed, they said, she hardly drank. Jeanne Bastardi has written "The Taconic Tragedy A Son's Search for the Truth" based on the actual seven person homicide that took the lives of her husband's Father, Brother, and dearFriend. ", It was Schuler herself who had appeared to have super-human powers. The Long Island mom driving the wrong-way minivan in the Taconic State Parkway tragedy called her brother two hours before the crash to say she was sick and disoriented, cops said Monday. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. We would never knowingly allow our daughters to travel with someone who might jeopardize their safety. "We are all coming together in faith," said the Rev. Eight people were killed in the fatal accident. This book deals with the Bastardi family. Toxicology reports showed she had a blood alcohol level of .19 over twice the legal limit . She eventually crashed into an oncoming SUV . Diane Schuler was able to do so. . All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. This story has been shared 121,242 times. I read this strictly to get more info on this tragic case. Schuler crashed about four hours after leaving a Sullivan County campground at around 9:30 a.m. as she was taking the kids back home. Diane Schuler, her daughter Erin, and her three nieces also died in the crash The Hance girls attended elementary school in the Floral Park-Bellerose School District, said school superintendent Lynn Pombonyo. There was a problem getting your location. At the same time, her husband left in a gray pickup with their family dog. August 6, 2009 6:36am. The tox levels prove she was drinking and smoking weed within an hour of the crash. Eileen K. McKeough 1944 - . I understand the Bastardi family was devastated but some of their behaviour was unseemly as well. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. "After the fact, we can see the breakdown patients suffer when they feel they have to be great, otherwise they are no good. On Sunday, July 26, 2009, Diane Schuler set off in her car toward home on Long Island, a drive she had made numerous times before. On that bright sunny day 10 years ago, families were shattered in a fiery crash that killed . Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. A good look at the other family's side of the story. Certainly not to drive straight, wrong side of the road or not. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Her husband, Daniel, took his pick-up . Daniel says in the documentary that he never wanted kids. Today marks the two year anniversary of the tragedy, and now, an HBO documentary, "There's Something Wrong With Aunt Diane," asks if Diane Schuler's obsessive perfectionism may have contributed to the crash. It was caused by mother of two, Dianne Schuler who inexplicably drove her mini van for nearly two miles at high speed, on the wrong side of the road on Taconic Parkway. Eventually, she slammed head-on into another vehicle, killing Guy Bastardi, 43, his father Michael Bastardi, 81, and a family friend, Daniel Longo, 72. You really get a sense of the family's grief, particularly the son who lost his father and brother. Amidst all the uncertainties of how and why this accident occurred, this is the absolutely last thing that we ever would have expected, the Hances said in a statement. Diane Schuler, 36, was a dedicated wife to her husband, Danny, and a devoted mother to her children, Bryan and Erin. "At this point in our investigation, we don't know what caused the operator of the vehicle to go the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway," said Capt. November 24, 2009 8:26pm. Try again. Does that make one way better or more right than the other? Well of course hes going to say that. My father taught me how important family is. Schulers wife Diane was drunk and high on marijuana when she drove the wrong way for almost two miles on a highway before smashing head-on into an SUV, killing herself and seven others, a prosecutor said. News of Schulers alcohol and drug abuse is a crushing blow, said her family, including her brother, Warren Hance, and his wife, Jackie, whose three young daughters died in the crash. In keeping the promise that I made to my father, I hope this book can in some way speak for my brother, Guy, and my father. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Friends and family tell filmmaker Filmmaker Liz Garbus that in every aspect of her life, Diane Schuler strived for perfectionism. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. She basically became a caretaker at the age of nine. For several years before I got sober, I would awaken to three or four stiff (double alcohol at minimum) drinks before getting showered and dressed for work. Eileen leaves behind three sons, Warren, John and David; two brothers, Joseph and Michael; her sister, Kathleen Doerrie; and grandchildren, Byran Schuler, and Melanie, Kasey, and Willa Hance. Try again later. SCHULEROUR LOVE AND HEARTS ARE ALWAYS WITH YOULOVING WIFE AND MOTHERDIANE ENOV 13, 1972 - JULY 26, 2009DADDYS LITTLE GIRLBEAUTIFUL BABY SISTER ERIN MJUNE 8, 2007 JULY 26, 2009, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Trip: Daniel described as 'excellent' weekend. I have three daughters of my own, and if they all died at once in a wreck, I don't think I could even communicate with anyone about anything. But there is a small possibility that he wasnt aware of his wifes drinking, since some functioning alcoholics are very good at hiding their drinking. The passing scene and what it's about viewed from the traditionalist politically incorrect Right. I agree with other readers that there was a lot of venom in this writing. Written after viewing the notes her husband Michael was keeping, the book is based on his story detailing the drunken driving accident that drew worldwide attention. Please enter your email and password to sign in. The writing is very basic but gets the point across. Even if we did know it wouldn't bring any of the victims back but for the Bastardis at least the not knowing is a terrible affliction. Only her son Bryan, then 5, survived. Failed to delete memorial. The Schulers 5-year-old son, Bryan, who was the only survivor of the crash, has been moved out of the intensive-care unit at Westchester Medical Center, a source said. That makes it even more tragic.. Year should not be greater than current year. Having read both books, its obvious that the Bastardi and Hance families grieve in different ways. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). By JOHN VALENTI john.valenti@newsday.com July 25, 2011. Diane Schuler was a 36-year-old woman from New York. Hance, 40, lost all three of her daughters in the crash, and yet she recently told Good Housekeeping magazine that Schuler was "the most responsible person I knew." Sources have come forward to say that Diane was unhappy in her marriage, felt trapped, and was aware her husband was having an affair (the babysitter at the press conference who later moved in)? We would never knowingly allow our daughters to travel with someone who might jeopardize their safety. I didn't like the parts of the book where they discuss as a family the little boy who survived in an almost insulting and irreverent way. "There are no easy words," he said. I would recommend it though because some of the smaller details in the whole tragedy missed in the press are sketched out here. Witnesses said her driving was not erratic but rather she drove deliberately down the fast lane with determined eyes. Anyone with a hangover and red weed eyes would understand this behaviour. After studying and watching and thinking that the most simple answer is likely the real answer I posit this. I'm sorry but losing your three babies is very different than losing your elderly father yet they never allowed Jackie those feelings. On 2nd anniversary of horrific crash, film explores mindset of Diane Schuler. Schuler's son, Bryan, who suffered a severe head injury that left him with ocular nerve palsy, has said he has no memory of the accident. While many people questioned why the Bastardi's felt so much anger towards the other victims, the Hance's, after reading the book I understand why. It's too bad no one has written a detailed account of this accident which to this day remains somewhat of a mystery as to how and why it happened. Make sure that the file is a photo. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Her five-year-old son Brian survived and is hospitalized. Garbus attempts to piece together the psychological puzzle of Schuler's state of mind before the 2009 accident, one of the worst in state history.