<p>I think the big question is, was she acting strangely before they got in the car? The niece reacted in the car and said she was acting strangely. But has anyone come forward and said she was clearly acting strangely before they started driving? I just keep wondering if she had some kind of stroke or seizure while driving.</p>
<p>When something like this happens and there are possibilities that someone alive might share in the blame, it is natural to hit on him. There are many suspicions that the husband may have known that his wife was in no condition to drive, may have contributed to the situation, but they have not been proven. Given what happened this is a terrible, terrible thing to hang on someone already so beaten with the consequences, when there is no definitive proof that can be made. Instead of asking what if the husband were complicit, we should be thinking, what if he were not, because to lay this additional burden on someone who just might be innocent, regardless of what you or others may suspect, is truly atrocious. There is a burden of proof to be formally accused of these things, and that has not happened. Just suspecting it is not enough. If suspicion is all it takes to brand someone as a criminal, there would be many more in jail and falsely so.</p>
<p>We can speculate all the details. The fact remains that we really don’t know anything. He and his surviving child are victims as well. He really has lost everything, and I am not diminishing anyone else horrific loss. His actions since the accident have been questionable and less than stellar, but that doesn’t make him responsible. I’m sure he was an ******* before the accident and he is still an *******.The blame is squarely on Diane Schuler and that is irefutable.</p>
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I don’t think he’s complicit, but I do think he is rubbing salt in the wounds of the other survivors. That is atrocious. He created for himself a whole set of new legal issues to deal with and bad publicity. And for what?</p>
<p>This is so terrible. My school lost three seniors in a class of 19 two years ago and it really hurt our school community. Classes were canceled for the week and counselors were brought on campus. Really, really sad. It happened in December and one of the victims families found out the next day he was accepted to Columbia ED. Really tragic.</p>
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<p>Well said, and I feel the same way.</p>
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<p>The autopsy addressed that question and came to the strong conclusion that there was no evidence of stroke, and seizures are not known to cause the kind of behavior she exhibited.</p>
<p>The fact that there was significant alcohol content found in her blood and body fluids (they even found alcohol in her vitreous humor, the fluid contained in the eyes), undigested alcohol in her stomach, and high THC levels in her blood (usually clears very quickly from the blood stream vs. urine, thus the conclusion that her marijuana use occurred very shortly before she died), is very strong evidence that the cause of her behavior was alcohol and drug intoxication. Unless these samples came from someone else other than Diane Schuler, I think you have to conclude that whether or not heavy drinking was something she did very often, she did indeed drink very heavily on that particular day.</p>
<p>Came across this article from last fall. It is one of the few articles that kind of gives the reader a glimpse of Diane Schuler which goes beyond Daniel’s assertion that she was “perfect” and “a true saint.” It doesn’t demonize her, but gives her some humanity.</p>
<p>[How</a> Danny Schuler Is Handling the Aftermath of the Fatal Taconic State Parkway Crash Caused by His Wife, Diane – New York Magazine](<a href=“http://nymag.com/news/features/62043/]How”>How Danny Schuler Is Handling the Aftermath of the Fatal Taconic State Parkway Crash Caused by His Wife, Diane -- New York Magazine - Nymag)</p>
<p>The widower of Diane Schuler is in the news again after he filed a lawsuit against the state of New York for being the “sole cause” of the horrible accident. He has also filed suit against his brother in law, owner of the van which his wife was driving, and father of three of the dead victims.</p>
<p>The HBO special on the incident aired Monday night; I believe it is a series rather than one documentary. We don’t have HBO, so I couldn’t watch it. Did anyone catch the show?</p>
<p>[Daniel</a> Schuler, Widower Of Diane Schuler Who Died In A Wrong-Way Crash On The Taconic Parkway, Reportedly Filed Suit Against The State And Warren Hance, Whose 3 Daughters Were Victims Of The Accident CBS New York](<a href=“http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/07/26/report-widower-sues-state-after-tragic-wrong-way-crash-on-taconic-parkway/]Daniel”>Report: Daniel Schuler Sues State, Brother-In-Law, 2 Years After Taconic Crash - CBS New York)</p>
<p>This accident has bothered me ever since it happened. I recently read the Ladies Home Journal interview with Mrs Schuler’s sister in law (who is now pregnant with another child) and I wonder how she and her husband survive day to day after the loss of their 3 daughters. She says she still cannot even cook a meal since that dreadful day.</p>
<p>However, one thing bothers me to this day. I feel like Diane Schuler’s husband knows more than he is letting on. What happened that day that he left her at the campsite? He took off in one vehicle alone while she left in another vehicle with all five children. Obviously something triggered her to want to smoke marajuana and drink a large amount of alcohol while driving with all of those children in her care. Was there an altercation between Mr. Schuler and his wife? Were there marital issues? A van load of rambunctious children does not inspire that type of destructive behavior in an otherwise described ‘normal’ human being. Now his actions with these lawsuits make me think he is covering up some sort of latent guilt. Mr. Schuler needs to come clean about what he knows for the sake of his surviving son and for the rest of his family who deserve to know the truth about why his wife did what she did. I don’t believe for a minute that anyone would hold him fully responsible for what she did but for closure the world deserves the truth.</p>
<p>A similar accident happened in Pennsylvania on Rt. 78 yesterday.</p>
<p>[Interstate</a> 78 accident tractor-trailer accident at Route 412 in Lower Saucon Township - Morning Call](<a href=“http://articles.mcall.com/2011-07-26/news/mc-interstate-78-route-412-truck-acci20110726_1_fuel-spill-eastbound-lanes-westbound-lanes]Interstate”>http://articles.mcall.com/2011-07-26/news/mc-interstate-78-route-412-truck-acci20110726_1_fuel-spill-eastbound-lanes-westbound-lanes)</p>
<p>I have seen people going the wrong way on highways at times too. It is more common than you think. It is possible that the entrance ramps that are right next to exit ramps could be confusing to some people, especially at night when signs are harder to spot and read. Also if there is any construction in the area of the entrance ramps that could cause confusion too.</p>
<p>Also, this woman had a blood alcohol content twice the legal limit and had been smoking marijuana with the kids in the car. Also, according to the husband of the driver they had been going to that same campsite for 3 years so she knew the area well.</p>
<p>The mother of one of the dead children got a call from her daughter saying “Mommy, something’s wrong with Aunt Sandy!” Then the phone went dead. Can you imagine?</p>
<p>I saw the HBO documentary. I don’t think it is a series. There are no questions answered really. I had a hard time understanding some of the dialogue - it needed subtitles. I was shocked that they showed quite graphic pictures of Diane’s body after the accident. I assume the family had to give permission and it’s hard to believe they would. Dan Schuler seems to be a shell of a man, but I’m not sure he was much different before the accident. The documentary will be re-broadcast tonight and tomorrow night - I believe. </p>
<p>It is unbelievable to me that he is suing his brother in law. The van was in good enough shape to go 85 mph - unfortunately, in the wrong direction.</p>
<p>The fact that Dan Schuler is suing his brother-in-law is disturbing to me. Is the man in complete denial or is he a monster?</p>
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<p>When I wrote the comment, I didn’t realize that it was an old thread about the Diane Schuler incident. I thought it was a new accident, and that the one I spoke about was yet another incident.</p>
<p>I’m guessing the lawsuit against Diane’s husband is for recovery of auto insurance proceeds. He may be the policyholder.</p>
<p>Thats what I was thinking, Bay. As awfulas it sounds, one has to file against the policy holder of the insurance policy for compensation or insurance subrogation, etc.</p>
<p>What I wonder is if anyone noticed Diane Schuler at the rest stop, drunk and high. Was she out of it then, or did whatever she was drinking and smoking only take effect when she was driving? </p>
<p>And would I be one of the cars who were able to get out of her way? You don’t expect to see someone heading straight for you, going the wrong way.</p>
<p>And how did her son survive? I remember reading once that the safest seat is behind the driver. Was that where he was?</p>
<p>Diane’s husband’s lawsuit is appalling.</p>
<p>I’m sure Dan Schuler is hoping for a piece of the insurance money. The families of the men in the other car are also suing as are a couple in another car that was hit. That couple is also suing the driver/owner of the Bastardi vehicle. Everyone is suing everyone in hopes of preserving a chance to get in on the insurance money. Owners of cars involved in accidents are quite often sued under the theory of vicarious liability.</p>
<p>If anyone has not read the New York Magazine (with Dan Schuler interview) article linked upthread they really should. The accounts of his relationship with his wife her view of her personality and the accounts of her friends are a little bit different (especially as it pertains to her drug and alcohol use and ability to cope with every day stress). </p>
<p>As to who saw what at the rest stop, the NY Mag article says she left that McDonalds with a cup of orange juice which they point out is a usual mixer for the vodka found in the van at the accident site. She left the rest stop in close proximity time wise to the accident so would have ingested quite a bit of alcohol in a short amount of time.</p>