Try again later. 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. 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. This week marks two years since Diane Schuler, a 36-year-old Long Island "supermom," caused a collision while driving a minivan the wrong way on New York's Taconic State Parkway. But was that true? I had built up a tolerance to a rather high blood alcohol content and without it, I was much less functional. Additional reporting by Amber Sutherland, Rebecca Rosenberg, Kieran Crowley, Perry Chiaramonte and Larry Celona. Diane Schuler's Hidden Life: When Functional Addiction Turns to Tragedy 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. . Hance's sister-in-law Diane Schuler drove the wrong way on New York's Taconic State Parkway and crashed . The rabid defense of a woman who chose to drive drunk and high with five little ones in her car, her shady husband who's trying to cover his own ass and make a little money on the side, Diane's brother Warren who likely knew she was stoned out of her mind and thought he'd save her from a DUI. Finally, Daniel Schuler recently stated that his wife wasnt a drinker and suggested that perhaps diabetes or other health problems were to blame. I pray that both the Bastardi and Hance families find the peace they are looking for. I agree with other readers that there was a lot of venom in this writing. "Little Brian is doing good," said a family friend, who asked not to be named. Her five-year-old son Brian survived and is hospitalized. Failed to report flower. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Select a location to see product availability. based on information from your browser. Diane Schuler, the Taconic Tragedy, and the prescription she - reddit or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. There was a problem loading your book clubs. It strips away Schuler's perfect veneer. Diane Schuler's Story Is One Of Isolation, Denial, And Rage - Jezebel I bought this book to see the Bastardi family's side of things. Diane Schuler The "Perfect Mom" Who Killed 8 With Her Van Including Ada Hart. I wish there was a more in-depth written study of this case. But toxicology reports at the time revealed a blood-alcohol level of 0.19 -- the equivalent of 10 drinks -- and considerable levels of THC from smoking marijuana. Two elderly men and one of the men's middle aged son were killed while driving on an expressway on a sunny Sunday afternoon. 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.. I hope someday this mystery gets untangled. Learn more about merges. Diane Schuler, 36who died in the wrong-way crash on the Taconic Parkwayrecently seemed under pressure, like work and family were getting to her, said the pal, Sheila, who asked that her last name be withheld. Please try again later. Just wishing it was not true does not change anything. Absolutely not with Pot on board. Fatal N.Y. wrong-way crash relatives still seek truth. "I made many efforts," her mother, Eileen, tells me. Anne Cuozzo, 37, who has lived across the street from the Schulers for seven years, said, We never saw [Diane] drunk. . She basically became a caretaker at the age of nine. She cites the case of Leshanda Armstrong, a New York mother of four who drove her minivan into the frigid waters of the Hudson River in April, killing herself and three of her small children. Diane Schuler timeline: 10 years later, mystery shrouds Taconic crash Officials tell New York press that Diane Schuler's blood alcohol was .19, nearly twice the legal limit.. Robert Guzzo, whose wife lost relatives in the crash, tells press today: Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Yes, something was wrong with Aunt Diane. Bursztajn, a clinical psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School who was interviewed for the film, said when trauma doesn't heal, it can have catastrophic consequences. November 24, 2009 8:26pm. "It's a puzzle," Bursztajn added. Jackie Hance, sister-in-law of Diane Schuler, is shown in photo with two of her three daughters who were killed in crash Sunday when Schuler entered Taconic Parkway and drove the wrong way. She warns that not all those who have upsets in life will end up like Schuler. Learn more about managing a memorial . In the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, 74-year-old Dan Longo, 81-year-old Michael Bastardi, and his 49-year-old son Guy were killed instantly. She was high on marijuana and had the equivalent of 10 shots of booze in her stomach. Strange theories are floated by Dom Barbara, Daniel's flamboyant and crooked lawyer. AbeBooks, an Amazon company, offers millions of new, used, and out-of-print books. . I always drank vodka at that time of day because it was much less detectable to those around me. This is a carousel with slides. Information The Documentary Didn't Provide and Questions That Need Failed to remove flower. Trip: Daniel described as 'excellent' weekend. The Long Island mother who drove bombed out of her mind with a minivan full of kids triggering a head-on collision that killed 8 routinely bellied up to the bar and griped about her failing marriage and stressful job, a drinking buddy told The Post. My wife did not even know that I drank at that time of day. Witness: Diane Schuler had look of 'panic' before crash ). This made me instantly suspect that there were marital troubles. Blowing horns, flashing lights, and waving arms did nothing to deter her. We've received your submission. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. Just like everyone else, this is news to us They were very friendly. 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. July 26, 2011 -- Two years after the horrific Taconic State Parkway crash, the husband of Diane Schuler is suing New York State and the father of three nieces who were killed when the Long Island . 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. Warren Hance told his sister, Diane Schuler, to pull over and wait for him to pick them up. GREAT NEWS! Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Resend Activation Email. Friends and family tell filmmaker Filmmaker Liz Garbus that in every aspect of her life, Diane Schuler strived for perfectionism. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. I cannot fathom the pain the Bastardi family went through with losing a father and brother. People who knew Schuler said she was a stable, devoted and trustworthy mother, not someone who would put others, especially her children, at risk. 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. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in this book. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. 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. Schuler, a manager in Cablevisions accounting department, would suck down screwdrivers at a Long Island saloon, where she was a regular the past few years and usually came by herself, her pal said, adding: I wouldnt say she was an alcoholic, but she liked her drinks. "You can't imagine how complex that question is. Daniel Schuler and Barbara publicly attributed Diane Schuler's erratic driving to a medical issue, such as a stroke. Upon release of Diane Schuler's toxicology report both Diane's husband and her brother lawyer up and refuse to cooperate with the investigation in any meaningful way. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 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. A chronological look at the four hour drive that terrorized motorists destroyed three families and captivated the public.The changing stories, the changing excuses, and the continuing search for the truth. Friends and family held a prayer service on Monday night at Our Lady of Victory church in Floral Park, L.I., where sobbing parishioners passed around tissue boxes and leaned on each other for support. Only her son Bryan, then 5, survived. Were they drinking and doing drugs? Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. The whole story smells rotten. I know this family wants justice. Nor would Schuler's lawyer allow him to respond to questions regarding the scientific findings that his wife had high levels of THC in her system, the active ingredient in marijuana. Schuler's family has rallied around the woman blamed for killing eight people, including herself, her daughter, three nieces and three men in a head-on collision on the Taconic State Parkway July 26. My father taught me how important family is. 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. Poisoned Apple: What happened to Aunt Diane? - Common Sense They are two of the greatest people the world will ever have known. 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. Her van was later spotted by several motorists driving erratically along Route 17 and I-87. In Floral Park, police blocked off the Hance home all day Monday. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. Try again later. WED WOES DROVE CRASH MA TO DRINK - New York Post I would posit that's what she mixed her Absolut Vodka with that was found in the van rubble. Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2013. 2009 Taconic State Parkway crash - Wikipedia I've never written this long of a review but I had to get this off my chest. #dianeschuler #somethingiswrongwithauntdiane Diane Schuler left a family campground with her daughter, son, and two nieces to head home. We are sorry. Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2013. He died, along with his father, Michael Bastardi, 81, and friend Daniel Longo, 74, all of Yonkers. "I'm still numbed," said neighbor Joseph O'Donald, 79. The accident made national news. "It's very tragic," the friend said. Diane Schulerthey later identified her through . If you are looking for answers or some information not found elsewhere, this is not the book for you. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. "That is not consistent with who Diane was," Bursztajn said. But many are too embarrassed to admit psychic pain. As panicked motorists swerved out of her way, she continued for almost two miles. He claims Diane was sober and just fine, perfectly capable of caring for five children and getting home. Anne Cuozzo, 37, who has lived across the street from the Schulers for seven years, said, We never saw [Diane] drunk. Most experts ruled out suicide. And it would be reasonable to ask that Daniel Shueler not profit from the acts of his wife that day. Besides her parents, she is predeceased by her daughter, Diane E. Hance-Schuler, granddaughters, Erin M. Schuler, Emma, Alyson, and Kate Hance. An eye opener for all. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. He was in stable condition at Westchester Medical Center on Monday. In the film, Bastardi's daughters say they have forgiven Diane Schuler, but not Daniel and Jay Schuler for denying her guilt in the crash. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. The sadness of course is that no-one will ever know exactly what happened in the days leading up to and following the crash. There were eight fatalities including the woman driving the van, her three young nieces, her tiny daughter and the men. Try again. Friends said she smoked marijuana at night to help her sleep but that Schuler showed no signs of alcoholism. What Happened To Diane Schuler Son? - On Secret Hunt Diane Schuler: The Minivan crash that kills a woman and - gudstory.com She is known as the main subject of the Taconic State Parkway crash back in 2009. 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 Friend. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Diane Schuler was able to do so. Now today I found this more detailed information in the New York Post: Why is this curiously detailed point being stated in this article? "His wife was drunk and high at the time of the accident that killed seven innocent people. 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. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Schuler, her daughter . I would just be a zombie!! Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2016. 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. But owner Ann Scott insisted that such revelers are immediately thrown off the premises. On July 26, 2009, Schuler left Hunter Lake Campground in upstate New York with five children and headed back to their home in Long Island. Days later came the headlines; "Wrong Way Crash Mom Drunk and High!". The tox levels prove she was drinking and smoking weed within an hour of the crash. Three men in the SUV she hit - Guy Bastardi, 49, Michael Bastardi, 81 . There is no greater pain than having lost my father and brother from the senseless act of a drunk driver. You really get a sense of the family's grief, particularly the son who lost his father and brother. Jeanne Bastardi has written a sensitive account of the death of her father in law, brother in law and six other people in a sickening car crash on the Taconic Parkway, NY state, in 2009. She brought us back to life.''. "She compensated in the present for what she lost in the past. This browser does not support getting your location. Third, most husbands would help their wives out when they have a huge vanload of kids to return to their homes after camping. It even offers a theory as to why in the aftermath of the crash despite there being three families claiming to want the truth, in the end only the Bastardis actually meant what they said. On that bright sunny day 10 years ago, families were shattered in a fiery crash that killed . Diane Schuler's brother: We didn't know she was drunk and high before I especially remember when he told me that my brother will "alwaysbe [my] brother" and that I should always be there for him--and that my brother would always be there for me. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Daniel Schuler has maintained a round-the-clock vigil at Bryans bedside since the crash. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. I would lose coherence in my speech, become physically unstable and mentally unbalanced. She left the campground on that day with all five children in the Ford Windstar owned by her brother. Well of course hes going to say that. 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. 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. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Part 9: Diane Schuler and the Taconic Parkway Collision Theory- Suicide I read Jackie Hance's beautifully written memoire of her heartbreaking and unimaginable loss of her three little girls before I read this. Only one child survived the crash when the mini van collided head on with a SUV driven by Guy Bastardi. A case of deceipt, lies, and denials. Schuler had borrowed the red minivan from her sister-in-law, Jackie Hance, and had promised to get her niece back for a ballet lesson. In the end it changes nothing. Mother who lost all her children in New York crash is pregnant A medical examiner found Diane Schuler's blood-alcohol level was 0.19, more than twice the state's legal limit of 0.08, according to Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore. Eileen was in town with close friends for the Worlds Largest Garage Sale. We would never knowingly allow our daughters to travel with someone who might jeopardize their safety. 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. Additional reporting by Amber Sutherland, Rebecca Rosenberg, Kieran Crowley, Perry Chiaramonte and Larry Celona. Eileen K. McKeough 1944 - . Diane is seen on camera both at a McDonald's and a Sunoco with dark sunglasses on. Nearly two years ago, Diane Schuler drove the wrong way on the Taconic Parkway in New York and crashed her minivan into an oncoming S.U.V. 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. I'm sorry but losing your three babies is very different than losing your elderly father yet they never allowed Jackie those feelings. Some of the other reviews suggest that the anger that Jeanne Bastardi documents is unwarranted. You don't keep suing peopleIf she was alive today, Diane would likely be in jail.". Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. Daniel Schuler, right, holds hands with sisters-in-law Jay Schuler, center, and Joyce Schuler, left, while surrounded by reporters during a press conference in Garden City, N.Y. Thursday, Aug. 6 . Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. The Long Island mother who drove bombed out of her mind with a minivan full of kids triggering a head-on collision that killed 8 routinely bellied up . 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. Dad gets up early and leaves with the dog. The HBO documentary There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane attempted to give us insight as to what motivated Diane Schuler's unthinkable actions on July 26th 2009. Being from the UK I only recently heard about the tragedy that this book is written about. According to her obituary, she doesn't appear to have been married at the time. Here is the article that the NY Magazine reporter did. 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. Losing Three Children, Starting Again - The New York Times Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, Dog Ear Publishing, LLC (August 23, 2011). Please reset your password. Diane's niece died in the hospital . I am (and was) only 170 pounds. A Day After the HBO Documentary Airs, Diane Schuler's - LiveJournal All of a sudden, a red minivan comes around the curve at 85 mph going the wrong way and collide with the men head on. "The family needs your support. The anger about the foundation in the Hance girls honor. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. LOVING WIFE AND MOTHER DIANE E NOV 13, 1972 - JULY 26, 2009 DADDYS LITTLE GIRL BEAUTIFUL BABY SISTER . "I still can't believe it's them.". . Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Diane Schuler and her 2-year-old daughter also died in the accident. 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. . A heartwrenching account of a son's search for answers into the accident that took the lives of his father and brother along with six others. How does a person go from being like a sister to me -- adored by my girls and cherished by my husband -- to being the one who ruined our lives? What I found was a book that created conflicting emotions for me. "She never talked about it, almost like she wasn't even there.". The Hance girls attended elementary school in the Floral Park-Bellerose School District, said school superintendent Lynn Pombonyo. Schuler worked for Cablevision as director of credit and collections; the company put out a memo to employees on Monday mourning her loss. State Police also said Thursday that investigators went to Long Island for a pre-arranged interview with Schulers husband, Daniel; however, when they arrived they were not granted the interview and his attorney, Dominick Barbara could offer no useful information, the police said. "We are all coming together in faith," said the Rev. Eventually, she slammed head-on into another vehicle, killing Guy Bastardi, 43, his father Michael Bastardi, 81, and a family friend, Daniel Longo, 72. Diane Schuler Accident Reconstruction - Roar Engineering I read the other book "I'll See You Again" that focuses on the Hance family and I watched the HBO documentary. The SuperMom who Snapped. What happened to Diane Schuler? - Medium Had she sought help, the tragedy might have been averted. Not someone who was bad. This is the story of the infamous Taconic Parkway crash but if you're reading this review then you already knew that. Police said at least six separate witnesses called 911 to report a van driving the wrong way. Please try again. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. I think what was really going on was that they were so much in grief and were just not able to come forward. 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. TV review: 'There's Something Wrong With Aunt Diane' To use this feature, use a newer browser. Why wasnt he helping out? I bought this in order to fill in some gaps in the story of this tragedy and the book does do that. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Every theory has a credible source. I could swear it was mentioned in the documentary somewhere that Diane Schuler had an Rx for Ambien bc she had trouble sleeping. "She seemed to be good at whatever she attempted," her friend, Sue Troccoli, said. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Although her three brothers reconciled with their mother, Schuler refused, according to her husband. The minivan plunged downhill and burst into flames as the SUV was pushed across two lanes and struck by another SUV. But owner Ann Scott insisted that such revelers are immediately thrown off the premises. The whole 4 hour torture ride goes on and Diane is supposedly sick. The Long Island mother who drove bombed out of her mind with a minivan full of kidstriggering a head-on collision that killed 8routinely bellied up to the bar and griped about her failing marriage and stressful job, a drinking buddy told The Post.