Taconic Crash Mom's Family Continues To Defend Her

Today's Newsday cover

The family of Diane Schuler continued their media push, in an attempt to dispute findings that she was drunk and high when she crashed a minivan carrying five children into an SUV carrying three adults on the Taconic State Parkway while driving from a Sullivan County campground back to Long Island two weeks ago. She killed herself, her daughter, three nieces, and the SUV's driver and passengers. Her husband Danny said, "She is not an alcoholic and my heart is rested every night when I go to bed." And today, his lawyer, sister-in-law and a private investigator appeared on the Today show: Lawyer Dominic Barbara said, "We all have to accept certain facts. When she left the campground, she was absolutely sober," while Danny Schuler's sister said, "We just can't explain what happened to Diane," and emphasized her sister-in-law did not drink heavily, only socially.

Newsday reports, "An investigator hired by the Schuler family said it had not been proven that the bottle had been in the Ford Windstar minivan being driven by Diane when she caused the crash. The investigator, Thomas Ruskin, told [Today Show] host Meredith Vieira that the family was 'known to carry the same bottle of vodka for the entire season' of camping. Ruskin said it was possible Daniel Schuler, who liked to have an occasional drink of vodka, placed the bottle into the minivan when he packed it with camping equipment the morning of the fatal crash."

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Yesterday, the Post noted, "Barbara listed an odd array of ailments that he said could have thrown her off the deep end. They included a possible stroke, a prior case of gestational diabetes, a two-month-old abscessed tooth and a 'lump on her leg' that 'was moving.'" Danny Schuler said yesterday that she was not an alcoholic and suggested a medical issue played a part, "She was a perfect wife, an outstanding mother, a hard worker, a reliable person. I would marry her again tomorrow," but admitted he worked nights and his wife worked days (the Post had spoken to a coworker of his wife's, who claimed she drank) and that his wife smoked pot occasionally.

Barbara did not allow the state police to question Danny Schuler. The state police did say that the nieces' father, Schuler's brother Warren Hance, did speak with them and was cooperative. In the mean time, Suffolk County Child Protective Services is investigating Danny Schuler, based on his admission that his wife smoked pot.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on August 7, 2009 6:04 PM

Comments [rss]

starrygordon

If it can be shown that people knew she was drunk and did not make an attempt to stop her from driving, they can be held criminally and civilly liable, and the charges will be fairly serious. Therefore, no one will say that the woman was drunk or that they saw her drinking prior to the crash. It is not just emotional denial; there is money and possibly jail time involved.

dgeee

Apparently she could really hold her liquor. But she couldn't drive for sh*t.

S.D.

Sad situation, but this is just making it worse for the survivors in both families.

ides_of_march

It is true that drunks, gamblers and other compulsives can be extremely skillful at hiding their addiction. I will give the guy that much.

Gertah

There is no escaping the fact that she ingested alcohol. Why she did it and what was going through her mind, we will likely never know. As for when she did it, I still don't buy the notion that Daniel Schuler would let a shitfaced Diane drive the kids home. Yes, spouses and friends of drinkers enable them and overlook slightly tipsy driving all the time. But sloshed? With kids? Come on.

For what it's worth, the "moving" bump on her leg sounds like a possible blood clot.

AnnaZed

"...Continues To Defends Her..."

ok then!

Mr Mel

It's denial I guess.

woodendesigner

A lot of closeted alcoholics are found out when something "big" happens and they can't control it getting out. Unfortunately in this case a lot of other people died in the process. It's also good to point out that many alcoholics drink vodka because it is easier to mask the smell of you drinking it.