Please try again. My father taught me how important family is. After Schuler left the campground, she was next seen at a McDonalds 11 miles away in Liberty, where witnesses also said she did not seem intoxicated, according to State Police Lt. Domenick Chiumento. John O'Farrell later told the Daily News. I bought this book to see the Bastardi family's side of things. 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. said "People suffer in silence.". Verify and try again. Brian's dad, Danny, is inconsolable over the loss of his wife and 2-year-old daughter, Erin. "It looks like he's going to make it.". He was in stable condition at Westchester Medical Center on Monday. My brother was always there for me. She basically became a caretaker at the age of nine. 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 know this family wants justice. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. 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: Strange theories are floated by Dom Barbara, Daniel's flamboyant and crooked lawyer. Additional reporting by Amber Sutherland, Rebecca Rosenberg, Kieran Crowley, Perry Chiaramonte and Larry Celona. Someone had to know, but that someone chose to say nothing, and now all these people are dead.. If you are looking for answers or some information not found elsewhere, this is not the book for you. 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 purse: In the documentary pause it at the photo of the Vodka bottle. Schuler's neighbor and friend, Lisa Acosta, 42, said the family likes the outdoors and went camping almost every weekend in upstate Monticello. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Daniel Schuler and Barbara publicly attributed Diane Schuler's erratic driving to a medical issue, such as a stroke. One story I read said that they had been going to this campground every summer weekend for the last three years, so the trip back home, while not short, was routine. 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. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. What I struggle with is the anger they have towards the Hance family. I should say at the outset that this book is not a slick, polished piece of prose. First breach in picture of Schuler as untroubled, Posted by Lawrence Auster at August 06, 2009 02:59 PM |, Reflections humorous and serious on the British character . They were very friendly. If the driver were alive today the charges would have been second-degree murder, Anolik said. Second, her husband had two different versions of where he was going that day: fishing and back home to Long Island. 0 cemeteries found in Westbury, Nassau County, New York, USA. Third, most husbands would help their wives out when they have a huge vanload of kids to return to their homes after camping. She left the campground on that day with all five children in the Ford Windstar owned by her brother. 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. Schuler, her daughter . Others in her life do not report seeing her drink alcohol to excess. Because we have never known Diane to be anything but a responsible and caring mother and aunt, this toxicology report raises more questions than it provides answers for the accident., Jackies mom, Phyllis Spagnuolo, told The Post, The Hance family had no idea of what went on on the other side of the family. Every theory has a credible source. "There are no easy words," he said. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. 3809 Main Street Warrensburg, New York 12885. 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Torrington, CT and Stony Creek: 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. Box 20795 Floral Park, NY 11002 or at www.hancefamilyfoundation.org. 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. 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. "She never complained about it," one friend said on camera. Scott also said Schuler appeared sober the morning she drove away with the kids and was not known to have boozed at the site. memorial page for Diane E. Hance Schuler (13 Nov 1972-26 Jul 2009), Find a Grave Memorial ID 240061915, citing Cemetery of the Holy Rood, Westbury . Diane was a type A control freak who had to have things her way and had a hard time relaxing. Her 5-year-old son, Brian Schuler, was the only one who survived the crash. 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. Up until now the story had been all about the Schulers and the Hances; if the Bastardis wanted their story told they were going to have to do it themselves. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. However it is quite repetitious and not surprisingly has a lot of grieving in it from the Bastardi family who suffered a tremendous loss with the deaths of two family members. 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. 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. Having read both books, its obvious that the Bastardi and Hance families grieve in different ways. 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. Her husband took the family dog in his pickup truck. The day of the accident, Schuler likely was stressed about running late and tried to ease her physical pain with alcohol and marijuana, which led to disorientation and dissociation. I looked at the title and wondered if the Bastardi family were able to find answers not in Jackie's book. Schuler entered the wrong side of the Taconic Parkway, then drove at 70 mph for nearly two miles. Please use a different way to share. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. On 2nd anniversary of horrific crash, film explores mindset of Diane Schuler. Because we have never known Diane to be anything but a responsible and caring mother and aunt, this toxicology report raises more questions than it provides answers for the accident., Jackies mom, Phyllis Spagnuolo, told The Post, The Hance family had no idea of what went on on the other side of the family. Year should not be greater than current year. Friends and family tell filmmaker Filmmaker Liz Garbus that in every aspect of her life, Diane Schuler strived to be the best. Diane, her daughter, and two of her nieces died immediately upon impact. They piled into her brother Warren's red 2004 Ford Windstar minivan, while her husband Daniel followed behind in a truck with the family dog. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. My wife did not even know that I drank at that time of day. 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. No criminal charges are expected since Schuler died in the crash. A system error has occurred. I found this book when I finished Jackie Hance's book about the tragedy. Yes, something was wrong with Aunt Diane. People who knew Schuler said she was a stable, devoted and trustworthy mother, not someone who would put others, especially her children, at risk. cemeteries found in Westbury, Nassau County, New York, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. I bought this in order to fill in some gaps in the story of this tragedy and the book does do that. [LA replies: They did have two cars up there, and apparently his additional fishing trip was already planned. 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. Eventually, she collided with an SUV, killing the four children she had in the car with her, the three adults in the other car, and herself. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our, HENRICK KAROLISZYN, Edgar Sandoval and SAMUEL GOLDSMITH, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. I read the other book "I'll See You Again" that focuses on the Hance family and I watched the HBO documentary. 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. Eventually, she slammed head-on into another vehicle, killing Guy Bastardi, 43, his father Michael Bastardi, 81, and a family friend, Daniel Longo, 72. The Bastardi family are right in wanting justice. "She was very good at her job, and she was a take-charge person, too.". Please enter your email and password to sign in. I always drank vodka at that time of day because it was much less detectable to those around me. But when Diane was a child, her mother Eileen left the family. Failed to remove flower. 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. "But that was an impossible way to live and to be human at the same time.". Learn more about managing a memorial . "For someone like Diane, they try harder and harder and they will never be satisfied with being good enough," he said. 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. GREAT NEWS! 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. "That is not consistent with who Diane was," Bursztajn said. 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. Leading up to the crash, it appeared as though Schuler was behaving normally. You don't keep suing peopleIf she was alive today, Diane would likely be in jail.". Michael Realmuto of the state police. Anyone with her blood alcohol content as well as her THC results, a whopping 113 vs a typical 2-5 is no stranger to substance abuse. Theres no way my husband would abandon me in order to go fishing or go home to conclude a family camping trip. Three men in the SUV she hit - Guy Bastardi, 49, Michael Bastardi, 81 . Her van was later spotted by several motorists driving erratically along Route 17 and I-87. Does that make one way better or more right than the other? 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. Daniel Schulers lawyer insisted to Fox 5 that his clients wife had not been a heavy drinker or drug user and that their were no problems in the marriage. It was a profound catastrophe.". ", "A psychiatric disorder can affect all of us, even people who look like they are functioning very well.". 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. 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 . Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. "It's a puzzle," Bursztajn added. 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. But owner Ann Scott insisted that such revelers are immediately thrown off the premises. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. "We are all coming together in faith," said the Rev. As panicked motorists swerved out of her way, she continued for almost two miles. After crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge headed into Westchester County, Schuler called her brother to say she felt disoriented and was having trouble seeing. "I'm still numbed," said neighbor Joseph O'Donald, 79. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Scott also said Schuler appeared sober the morning she drove away with the kids and was not known to have boozed at the site. This is a carousel with slides. I agree with other readers that there was a lot of venom in this writing. 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. She eventually crashed into an oncoming SUV . Failed to delete memorial. Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2018. My love for my father and brother, Guy, will continue to be as strong as it has been my entire life. . But many are too embarrassed to admit psychic pain. 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. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Police said at least six separate witnesses called 911 to report a van driving the wrong way. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. The passing scene and what it's about viewed from the traditionalist politically incorrect Right. . 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. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Diane Schuler killed seven innocent people. 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 . Diane Schuler was a mother of two small children who loaded her own kids and three others into her minivan for a long drive home from a camping trip. Add to your scrapbook. Diane is seen on camera both at a McDonald's and a Sunoco with dark sunglasses on. I understand the Bastardi family was devastated but some of their behaviour was unseemly as well. "People always ask how I feel about Diane," Hance told the magazine. After all this, she enters an exit the wrong way and drives for almost two miles narrowly missing countless other vehicles until that terrible final collision. Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. But everything had gone drastically awry in the life of Diane Schuler on Sunday, between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 in that afternoon. ; please feel free to email the website for information. "She was not someone who was mean. 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. I highly recommend reading if you're interested in this case, it gives some amazing insight into the effects the accident had on the surviving family members. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Just wishing it was not true does not change anything. Well of course hes going to say that. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. 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. There is no greater pain than having lost my father and brother from the senseless act of a drunk driver. Schuler worked for Cablevision as director of credit and collections; the company put out a memo to employees on Monday mourning her loss. Try again. s.24: "She stated that the driver was not swerving". Please try again later. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Select a location to see product availability. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Hes suicidal, Dominic Barbara said of Schuler. Friends and family tell filmmaker Filmmaker Liz Garbus that in every aspect of her life, Diane Schuler strived for perfectionism. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. 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.". 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. The Hance girls attended elementary school in the Floral Park-Bellerose School District, said school superintendent Lynn Pombonyo. "She had contacted her brother two hours before to say she wasn't feeling well" NY State police conference (7/27/09)"A drunk driver did not do this to your family," Daniel Schuler (9/1/09)** This book is based on the facts and information as presented to the family from the state police investigators, district attorney's office, private investigators, medical examiners, and other sources as listed. Immediately after the accident, people involved begin to act very oddly. Judging from Daniel Schulers recent pictures and the one (attached here) where hes walking and talking with a lawyer, he seems like a guy whos protecting himself from lawsuits. ", Dr. Carol Bernstein, associate professor of psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine, said, "the reality is anybody can snap. "His wife was drunk and high at the time of the accident that killed seven innocent people. "People said she seemed so normal," Bernstein said. August 6, 2009 6:36am. I read this strictly to get more info on this tragic case. 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." Drunkenness was evident: a blood alcohol content of 0.19 with 6 grams . Amazon has encountered an error. It was caused by mother of two, Dianne Schuler who inexplicably drove her mini van for 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. You really get a sense of the family's grief, particularly the son who lost his father and brother. This sounds to me like a classic case of a closet alcoholic. Just wishing it was not true does not change anything. The whole affair just wreaks of selfish parenting, lies, substance abuse, dirty money, cover ups and vitriol. 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 mother drove the wrong way, slamming head-on into another vehicle and killing eight. Here is the article that the NY Magazine reporter did. 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. . "She lost touch with reality," he speculated. Hes facing possible lawsuits for the deaths of several people. Toxicology reports showed she had a blood alcohol level of .19 over twice the legal limit . I believe she drank and smoked pot with her husband on weekends and camping trips. Resend Activation Email. "I made many efforts," her mother, Eileen, tells me. This book is odd for a few reasons. A graveside service will follow the visitation, in the Knowelhurst Cemetery, Stony Creek where Eileen will be laid to rest next to her beloved parents. Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2013. Five young children were in the car as well: her son, her daughter and three nieces. What you may not know is that this version of the story comes from the perspective of the Bastardis - the oft forgotten family who suffered their own tragedy that day. Fatal N.Y. wrong-way crash relatives still seek truth. "It's very tragic," the friend said. For the last couple of months, she didnt appear to be a happy woman.. We've received your submission. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig).. "Wrong way Mom Drunk and High". Witnesses said her van weaved in and out of lanes traveling down the New York State Thruway and the cries of children were heard in the car in a telephone call to her brother along the way. Friends may call on Eileens family from 12-2 pm, Thursday, October 10, 2013 at Alexander-Baker Funeral Home, 3809 Main Street, Warrensburg. Look inside to read what others have shared. There were eight fatalities including the woman driving the van, her three young nieces, her tiny daughter and the men. . The writing is very basic but gets the point across. They also jump to many conclusions that can't be proved as long as Daniel Schuler keeps lying and changing his story. I bought this in order to fill in some gaps in the story of this tragedy and the book does do that. This browser does not support getting your location. I was curious to learn the story of the other victims in this senseless and mostly unexplained "accident" on a beautiful New York summer Sunday afternoon. "The problem is, it doesn't work for very long," Bursztajn said. This story has been shared 170,718 times. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Her five-year-old son Brian survived and is hospitalized. 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. She did not do anything that will make her lose control when driving. Please share a memory of Eileen to include in a keepsake book for family and friends. 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. Instead, Schuler earned a top salary as a cable-TV executive, was a take-charge wife, raised two impeccably dressed children and volunteered enthusiastically at their school. There was a problem getting your location. It chronicles the Schuler family's absolute denial that Diane was drunk and high at the time of the crash." This is interesting to me. The Bastardi family comes off looking pretty callous in their opinions of Jackie. Diane's niece died in the hospital . Eileen K. McKeough 1944 - . So too is Hance, 41, and his wife, Jackie, 38, who lost their three daughters in the crash: Emma, 9, Alison, 7, and Kate, 5. The truth that Daniel Schuler, Dianne's husband, has tried so hard to hide from the world and probably from himself is coming out. She was high on marijuana and had the equivalent of 10 shots of booze in her stomach. No one appears to grieve for his baby daughter who was also killed. "She never talked about it, almost like she wasn't even there.". 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. 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. If you believe there is a inaccuracy or you can actually produce conflicting documentation; please feel free to email the website for information. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/240061915/diane-e-schuler. Most experts ruled out suicide. Finally, Daniel Schuler recently stated that his wife wasnt a drinker and suggested that perhaps diabetes or other health problems were to blame. But who knows what really happens behind closed doors?. 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. Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2013. Schuler was also killed, along with her 2-year-old daughter Erin. During that call, Hance spoke with one of his daughters, but he never indicated to us that she told him Schuler had been drinking or smoking, Chiumento said. Diane was an accomplished working mother who balanced her responsibilities . "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. "Daniel Schuler, whose wife, Diane Schuler, killed herself and seven others in a wrong-way crash on the Taconic State Parkway is suing the state and his brother-in-law, whose three daughters were victims. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 11, 2014, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2014.