Witnesses said her driving was not erratic but rather she drove deliberately down the fast lane with determined eyes. Jackie Hance, Diane Schuler's sister-in-law and the mother of three of the children killed in the accident, published the novel "I'll See You Again" in 2013. "These are three kids that are saints and angels. Her husband took the family dog in his pickup truck. You really get a sense of the family's grief, particularly the son who lost his father and brother. But owner Ann Scott insisted that such revelers are immediately thrown off the premises. There was an error deleting this problem. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations in Eileens name to The Hance Family Foundation P.O. The Long Island mom driving the wrong-way minivan in the Taconic State Parkway tragedy called her brother two hours before the crash to say she was sick and disoriented, cops said Monday. Two hours before Diane Schuler drove the wrong way on an upstate parkway, killing herself and seven others, a motorist saw someone who looked and dressed like her doubled-over on the side of the . "It's very tragic," the friend said. I read this strictly to get more info on this tragic case. There was a problem getting your location. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. 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. 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 crashed about four hours after leaving a Sullivan County campground at around 9:30 a.m. as she was taking the kids back home. There was a problem loading your book clubs. #dianeschuler #somethingiswrongwithauntdiane Diane Schuler left a family campground with her daughter, son, and two nieces to head home. For nearly two miles, Schuler was driving the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway. 0 cemeteries found in Westbury, Nassau County, New York, USA. Her five-year-old son Brian survived and is hospitalized. Life Story Memory Board Duane H. Schuler 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. 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. She was described as a protective mother's helper and the best mother's assistance ever. This made me instantly suspect that there were marital troubles. Failed to report flower. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. He confronts that Diane is a PTA teacher who was a responsible mother as well. Try again later. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. A caller to WABC/Channel 7 said the campground at Hunters Lakewhere Schuler and her family regularly stayedis a known boozing area, where wild parties are the norm. The Hance girls attended elementary school in the Floral Park-Bellerose School District, said school superintendent Lynn Pombonyo. 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. What I struggle with is the anger they have towards the Hance family. 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. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. What I found was a book that created conflicting emotions for me. I read this strictly to get more info on this tragic case. Scott also said Schuler appeared sober the morning she drove away with the kids and was not known to have boozed at the site. 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. She did not do anything that will make her lose control when driving. I looked at the title and wondered if the Bastardi family were able to find answers not in Jackie's book. 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. There were eight fatalities including the woman driving the van, her three young nieces, her tiny daughter and the men. Police said at least six separate witnesses called 911 to report a van driving the wrong way. Neither is it objective or balanced and why should it be? An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Just like everyone else, this is news to us . Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? 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. 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. I bought this book to see the Bastardi family's side of things. He alleges the highway was badly designed and inadequately sign-posted, which enabled his wife to drive the wrong way into traffic, according to the New York Post. 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. On July 26, 2009, Diane Schuler, 36, was driving the wrong way down the Taconic State Parkway in New York when her minivan slammed into an SUV, killing Diane, her young daughter, three nieces, and three passengers in the other vehicle. Please try again. "The family needs your support. I was raised in an Italian-American family. You don't keep suing peopleIf she was alive today, Diane would likely be in jail.". Sources have come forward to say that Diane was unhappy in her marriage, felt trapped, and was aware her husband was having an affair (the babysitter at the press conference who later moved in)? 11:37 a.m.: Schuler calls her sister-in-law, Jackie Hance, the mother of her three nieces, to tell them there is traffic and they are running late. Oops, something didn't work. The collision occurred after the troubled West Babylon resident drove south for 1.7 miles in the northbound lanes of the . The story of Diane Schuler is a sobering account of how dangerous the hidden life of functional addiction can be. He claims Diane was sober and just fine, perfectly capable of caring for five children and getting home. "It looks like he's going to make it.". Leading up to the crash, it appeared as though Schuler was behaving normally. Diane, her daughter, and two of her nieces died immediately upon impact. That makes it even more tragic.. 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 minivan plunged downhill and burst into flames as the SUV was pushed across two lanes and struck by another SUV. based on information from your browser. Dad gets up early and leaves with the dog. People who knew her reported her to be a devoted mother and wife, and a credit to her job. Friends said she smoked marijuana at night to help her sleep but that Schuler showed no signs of alcoholism. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. 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. Diane's niece died in the hospital . According to Barbara, Diane Schuler suffered from diabetes although additional sources cite Schuler as having had gestational diabetes, a temporary condition related to a prior pregnancy, rather than a chronic condition. She refused to participate in the documentary and is now pregnant after in vitro fertilization, due in September. The Hances were Diane Schulers family. 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 collision occurred after the troubled West Babylon resident drove south for 1.7 miles in the northbound lanes of the Taconic Parkway. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. "All of us are very, very sad for the loss of the little girls, and our hearts go out to the family," she said. I read the other book "I'll See You Again" that focuses on the Hance family and I watched the HBO documentary. "I made many efforts," her mother, Eileen, tells me. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. "She never talked about it, almost like she wasn't even there.". According to her obituary, she doesn't appear to have been married at the time. Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, Dog Ear Publishing, LLC (August 23, 2011). My father taught me how important family is. Daniels Account of Morning: Diane Schuler's husband -Got up at 6am-Went down to his boat to clean it-Got back 6.45am-7am-Woke up Diane-Packed bags 'slowly'-Woke up kids and got them dressed-Unloaded camper-Had 'one cup of coffee, two cups of coffee'-Loaded kids into the minivan-Loaded dog into pick-up Left campground together, Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Recommended. Schuler had entered the highway on an exit rampway and drove two miles in the wrong lane. Three men in the SUV she hit - Guy Bastardi, 49, Michael Bastardi, 81 . 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. Box 20795 Floral Park, NY 11002 or at www.hancefamilyfoundation.org. Bruno Dekrem. No criminal charges are expected since Schuler died in the crash. I understand the Bastardi family was devastated but some of their behaviour was unseemly as well. Eileen K. McKeough, 69, of Torrington, CT, passed away unexpectedly, Sunday, October 5, 2013 after being stricken at the home of her brother, Joe in Stony Creek. Search above to list available cemeteries. Anne Cuozzo, 37, who has lived across the street from the Schulers for seven years, said, We never saw [Diane] drunk. We've received your submission. Had she lived she'd be in jail on second degree murder charges. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Additional reporting by Amber Sutherland, Rebecca Rosenberg, Kieran Crowley, Perry Chiaramonte and Larry Celona. But no no, Diane doesn't drink and no one will even discuss the pot. Jackie wrote about her anger and rage at Diane for "murdering" her girls when the toxicoligy reports came out. 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.