All the best 'BoJack Horseman' season 6 fan theories, Diane Downs: The most famous murderous mother of all time. "Exhuming her body is only going to prolong the pain of the families involved . Diane Schuler Police Report - 2009 Taconic State Parkway Accident Created Date: 12/26/2009 12:44:12 PM . 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Daniel Schuler, along with his attorney Dominic Barbara, initially denied that Diane did drugs or was drinking at the lake that weekend as they had the children with them. [9][12][14][15], Investigators did not determine what route Schuler took from the bridge to the Taconic State Parkway ramps near Briarcliff Manor. November 10, 2009 - Diane Schuler, Wrong-Way Crash Mom: Got Sick Twice Before Collision Killed Eight, Says Report August 11, 2009 - Paper: Reunion in the Works for Wrong-Way Crash Families Wrong. The husbands callous behavior tells an a bigger story. [59], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}410711N 734825W / 41.119729N 73.807051W / 41.119729; -73.807051. display: block; The men tried to pull the girls out of the van and noted that they had no pulse. But if Schuler did have the condition, it could help explain why she seemed perfectly sober to those who saw her in the hours leading up to the crash, but was, in fact, intoxicated. The fact that she had killed 8 people seemed incidental . I have a feeling that she found out that Daniel and Jay were having an affair and she confronted him about it that weekend. Dont think she was an alcoholic per se (I recall a toxicology report indicating the liver was not that of a long term drinker) but I think there were issues going on. [4][5], The ensuing investigation into the crash's cause received nationwide media attention. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son Taconic Mom Drunk, Not Sick, Final Autopsy Says - NBC News She had etoh and weed in her system. Even though there is currently no cure for ABS, treatment can help manage the condition while lowering the risk of harm. Schuler's severely injured third niece and her 5-year-old son Bryan were taken to area hospitals, where the niece died later that day. We promise only to send you the most relevant news, contests, quizzes, and polls. Diane Schuler and her two children, three nieces, and three of her children left a New York campground on July 26 in her van. Adults with Crohns disease have a greater risk of developing this problem. Ruskin then informs her that his tests corroborated the previous tests; that Diane was highly intoxicated from alcohol and marijuana. Forensic investigator Michael Archer told WCBS, "We'll never know why she did this. A final autopsy report shows Diane Schuler was drunk -- and there was no evidence of other medical conditions that explain the deadly crash. Subsequent calls from Hance to Schuler went unanswered. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. I just don't understand how people can think someone goes from driving perfectly fine, using a cell phone totally fine, being "coherent" by all account witnesses, and having experience with heavy drinking, to "she drank herself to the point that she didn't realize she was driving the wrong-way for 2 miles without swerving.". 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. Schuler is scheduled to appear on CNN with Larry King on Tuesday evening. 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. 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. [citation needed]. 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. [49] By July 2014, all lawsuits by all parties were either settled or dropped. Taconic Crash Site Where Drunk Mom Killed Kids Is Filled With Ghosts Cookie Notice 4 of the people killed were children and 3 others were injured. That, of course, makes her sick and drunk and still in pain and not thinking clearly at all. He further stated that Diane did all the packing for the camping trip, and must have moved the bottle into the van. A few other pointsthis was an extremely controlling woman in a potentially unhappy relationship with a man who had no interest/desire to raise several kids. So, since shes not going to drive anymore, she tries another pain remedy. It was to help with some major pain that she didnt expect . [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?] Sugary and starchy foods that the body produces as alcohol become glucose. The collision occurred after the troubled West Babylon resident drove south for 1.7 miles in the northbound lanes of the . Diane died from blunt force trauma. This also drew criticism saying that a grand jury investigation into the crash should have been opened. 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home Regardless of why or how it got in her system, this is the reality and unfortunate fact. Her husband, Daniel Schuler, left the campground at the same time, in a pickup truck, and took the family dog with him. At 1:33pm, motorists called 9-1-1 again after noticing a red minivan edging onto the northbound exit ramp of the Taconic State Parkway near Briarcliff Manor. 2 theories are available , she got too high and didnt know what she was doing ( blackout) or for whatever reason , she became an entirely different person after getting drunk and smoking ( this wasnt crack) and decided to kill herself , her own children , her brothers and whoever else she rammed into? November 24, 2009 8:26pm. Several readers have commented on my original blog post "The Taconic Parkway Crash" about the possibility that Diane Schuler experienced a rare medical complication called 'Auto Brewery Syndrome' and that this condition may have led to her erratic behavior, elevated blood-alcohol level, and also account for her apparent lack of history of 'alcoholic behavior.' Until she showed signs of intoxication after being denied alcohol, a 13-year-old girl with ABS was thought to have adolescent behavior disorder. Published for the first time: Coroner releases amazing pictures of The Westchester County medical examiners office released a toxicology report on August 4 that showed that Schuler had a blood-alcohol content of 0.19%, with approximately six grams of alcohol in her stomach that had not yet been consumed. Diane Schuler: Wrong Way Taconic Crash : r/CrimeScene [33][34] In November, it was reported that Diane's sister-in-law had made a statement to police that Diane had, in fact, smoked marijuana on a regular basis. Something probably happened at the camping trip that made her reconsider the entire marriage with Danny - rather than go through a divorce, "lose control" of her marriage and kids, have her children experience a traumatic separation as she did, and leave her kids to an incapable/uninterested father, she decided to remain "in control" and put the kids and herself out of this misery. Diane Schuler instantly died in the course of a single conversation. "How could she?" Well, I have a theory | Salon.com Diane Schuler: How The Perfect Mom Killed Eight In A Head-On Collision A co-owner for the campground said that when she left Diane Schuler appeared sober. Donate today. They were required to include Hance in the suit as he was the owner of the van. Due to the fact that Diane died, however, Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore said that charges died with her. [36], Daniel's persistence in disputing his wife's intoxication and drug use was condemned by relatives of the three Trail Blazer victims. That eye is closed and the mouth is down on that same side. 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. Did she mistake the vodka for water? Leandras Law (Child Passenger Protection Act) is a New York State law making it an automatic felony on the first offense to drive drunk with a person age 15 or younger inside the vehicle, and setting the blood alcohol content, or BAC, at 0.08. The passengers of the Tracker, however, got away with minor injuries. . [50] The Child Passenger Protection Act was signed into New York law on November 18, 2009. 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. Doctors recommend that patients get a breathalyzer test to determine their blood alcohol level if they have auto-brewery syndrome. ", "ME: Schuler retests will show lower alcohol content. 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. Makes no sense. The woman's 5-year-old son survived. Daniel then changed his story, and consistently denied that his wife ever "drank to excess" or could have been drunk while driving that day. The Journal News. If she was in pain , drank to full it, then spoke to her brother and thought she wasnt going to be driving , smoking would have been ok for her to do because she wasnt going to be high and drive. 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. 0:05. These lives passed instantly when the crash happened. responded that, if the fluid samples had been properly stored, the re-test results ought to be similar to the prior tests. The autopsy also revealed that Schuler was impaired by marijuana, DiFiore said. I have never before witnessed or heard of an alcoholic get so messed up that they lose control or cohesion to this extent. In August 2009, New York Governor David Paterson proposed the Child Passenger Protection Act, which would make it a felony to drive while intoxicated if a passenger under the age of 16 is in a vehicle. Auto-brewery syndrome is extremely rare, and there are only a handful of documented cases in the medical literature. It was no doubt that Dianne's minivan is the one that crashes severely with another vehicle. Schuler's family persisted in refusing to accept the test results. Alcohol is produced in this condition by normal gut fermentation. [37] In October 2009, Ruskin, on The Oprah Winfrey Show, stated that, out of respect for the Bastardi family, Daniel had been avoiding media appearances since Larry King Live. It was the worst accident in that area in 75 years and it devastated so many. I totally agree with Mary, the big question is why? Hance told Schuler to pull off the road and wait for him to get to her and the children. 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. She had to control her environment % in order to feel calm. SHE DROVE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY FOR TWO MILES. [54] Bastardi relatives reacted with anger upon hearing that the NBC drama would be basing an episode on the real-life tragedy. ", "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. 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 mother drove the wrong way, slamming head-on into another vehicle and killing eight. Obviously diane thought this was the best she was going to do in marriage ( listen to her childhood friends) . 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. Diane Schuler's family: Autopsy shows she wasn't alcoholic - though [21] The results of an autopsy on the day following the crash, conducted by a Westchester County medical examiner, found that Diane had not suffered a stroke, an aneurysm, or a heart attack. 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. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. His mother describes him as Dianes older son?? Warren Hance spoke with his eldest daughter Emma on that terrifying phone call in the days following the tragedy. As a result of this reaction, the affected individuals blood alcohol content (BAC) rises. 00:40:29 - Original Air Date: 10/27/2009 The headlines gripped the nation: A head-on crash killed eight, including the mom driver who was under the influence. She drank more. Diane Schuler's Secret Life of Addiction. C'mon. This seems highly unlikely to me. "[42] DiFiore won re-election in November. They hardly referenced the little sister at all, but were totally obsessed with her not being called an alcoholic . Taconic Mom Drunk, Not Sick, Final Autopsy Says - NBC New York She jumps back in the van, leaving her phone on the side of the road, and takes off, completely incapacitated and out of control. Around 1pm, one of Hances daughters was able to use Schulers cell phone in order to call her father. Part 14: Diane Schuler and the Taconic Parkway Collision- Photo Gallery 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. 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. Diane Schuler's Hidden Life: When Functional Addiction Turns to Tragedy Surveillance Video: Diane Schuler at gas station before cras Then Barbara told Larry King that they planned to exhume Diane's body for further testing. 6. Information The Documentary Didn't Provide and Questions That Need Dianes parents, who lived just down the road from the Schulers in Mount Pleasant, claimed to be her natural guardians. subscribers . Taste The Refreshing Flavors Of Belgian White Ale! One of the saddest news stories of the summer just got sadder the husband of Diane Schuler, whose wrong-way drunk-driving crash killed her and seven others, tells New York Magazine he still . Her husband, Daniel, took his pick-up truck and their dog. Witness: Diane Schuler had look of 'panic' before crash Diane Schulers death is still a mystery to this day. Diane Schuler was diagnosed with gestational diabetes after giving birth and had an abscessed tooth for nearly two months. Daniel Schuler won custody of the children just three days after Dianes death on October 25, 2002, a Suffolk County judge determined. How will her brother Warren, whom shed called to tell she wasnt feeling well, ever stop blaming himself? Youtube Diane Schuler and her husband Daniel on their wedding day. Shortly after, Schuler was seen with her hands on her knees like she was vomiting at two separate instances. Excessive alcohol consumption can cause physical and social problems in people with ABS. Horrible horrible tragedy. 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. Diane Schuler: Wrong Way Taconic Crash. Schulers surviving niece and her 5-year-old son Bryan were still alive at the scene. Did Diane Schuler's behavior cause one of the worst crashes of all time [30][31] Schuler's relatives have also disputed that Diane was known to drink heavily or irresponsibly. Abs can cause a wide range of symptoms, including hypoglycemia and stroke, similar to those seen in other patients. Alex Murdaugh testifies 4 years after fatal boat crash involving son Having watched the documentary, I think Diane was in deep emotional painmuch more than she ever let on. In essence, accident reconstruction is a branch of causation forensics that involves knowing how and why an accident happened. Edit: Some people have pointed out other instances of drunk drivers driving on the wrong side of the highway, which is fair. Daniel denied that she drank to excess or smoked marijuana except on occasion to relieve insomnia. [57] Stephen King's short story "Herman Wouk is Still Alive" in his horror fiction anthology The Bazaar of Bad Dreams (2015) is, according to King, a story directly based on the Taconic State Parkway crash. [21][23][24] When Larry King and Oprah Winfrey asked Daniel about the vodka in the van, he claimed that the couple always kept an "old" bottle in their camper. By Monika. Her body was severed at the waist and her legs were found several feet away from her torso. 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. Unbearable tragedy: Jackie Hance lost her daughters Alyson, seven (left), Kate, five and Emma, eight in a horrific car crash. According to Dominic Barbara, the body will be exhumed, according to Larry King this week. Just hours after the accident, the driver, Diane Long, was weaving wildly through oncoming traffic for nearly two miles before she was killed. Following the premiere of the HBO documentary Theres Something Wrong with Aunt Diane, Daniel Schuler filed a lawsuit against the state of New York for not keeping the road safe and against Warren Hance as he owned the minivan that Diane was driving. The Bastardi family would file a lawsuit against Daniel Schuler and Warren Hance seeking unspecified damages for wanton, willful, and reckless conduct. Diane Schuler had a blood-alcohol level of 0.19 and 6 grams of alcohol in her stomach that had not yet metabolized, according to the report. I think Diane was in a lot of pain with the abscess and was using the vodka to swish and numb the pain. [21][22] Lawyers for the family of two of the Yonkers men killed in the crash dismiss Ruskin's interpretation of the autopsy results as a plus in the Schuler's column. [58], Jackie and Warren Hance formed a foundation, the Hance Family Foundation, whose main purpose is to honor the lives of their three daughters by ensuring healthy, happy, and safe children through innovative self-esteem educational programming. She said that her daughters suffered terror, fear of impending death, extreme horror, fright, and mental anguish in the lead-up to their deaths. Recommended. Barbara also mentioned an "abscess" that had persisted in Diane's mouth for seven weeks prior to her death, and a lump in her leg, about which she[who?] At the time of the collision, Schuler was travelling at 85 mph. Gut fermentation syndrome is a medical condition that is poorly understood and poorly diagnosed, according to a review of the literature. No possible explanation suffices for the horrific July 26 crash, in which Ms. Schuler, returning from a camping trip, drove 1.7 miles in the wrong direction on a curvy . Diane Schulers death has left her family and friends in shock. 12 Diane Schuler Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images When she stopped with the kids at McDonalds and ordered orange juice, I think she figured it would be easier to hide the vodka from the kids by adding it to the orange juice, only orange juice is acidic and would burn horribly when swishing. Paterson's Plan to Toughen DWI Laws, "Death Driver Diane Schuler Was Sober in McDonald's Before Crash, Says Family Investigator, "Family: No Signs of Long-Term Drinking in Driver in Fatal Crash, "Autopsy: Wrong-Way Crash Driver Not an Alcoholic, "Expert: Diane Schuler Should Have Had Hair Drug Test, Schuler's husband meets again with State Police, "Authorities: Autopsy Offers No Explanation for Crash, "Families Fight over Planned HBO Film of Taconic Death Driver Diane Schuler on Anniversary of Tragedy, "Family of Wrong-Way Drivers Victims Fires Back, "Bastardi Jr. Says HBO Documentary was a "Farce", "Victims' Families Angered by Schuler Claims, "Taconic Tragedy: Schuler Was Going 85 MPH in Wrong Direction, Final Police Report Says, "Challenger Pokes Holes In Westchester DA's Record, "DiFiore Pleased with Easy Win, Schorr Proud of Campaign, "Updated: Victims' Family Wants DA to Investigate Schuler Case, "Court May Name Executor of Diane Schuler's Estate, "Judge to Appoint Administrator for Diane Schulers Estate, "Suit Filed in Wrong-Way Crash That Killed 8 on Taconic, "Mother of Girls in Taconic Accident Files Suit", "Husband of Wrong Way Driver Sues State, In-Laws", "GOP Senator Fuschillo Demands Action, Tougher Laws for Drunken Driving: 'Leandra's Law, "Dr. Phil.com - Shows - Drunk Driving Moms", "Oprah Challenges Taconic Crash Investigator on Show, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2009_Taconic_State_Parkway_crash&oldid=1138477773, Transportation disasters in New York (state), Articles with dead external links from September 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2019, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from June 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 9 February 2023, at 22:27.