I am new to this thread, but not new to the case. I have done my own research, listened to the pod casts and whatnot.
I agree, I do not think the accident was planned. However, regardless of the issues she had at the time, I do not think she disappeared to off herself. Reason being, her remains have never been found. How far could she have wandered in those temperatures? Probably not THAT far. How big of a perimeter was searched of the area of the accident? To me, it just seems as though if she were going to walk off somewhere to commit suicide, it wouldn't be in a place so hidden and far off from the site. It was night time and when it is dark, even the most familiar places seem foreign or unknown.
I believe she accepted a ride from someone....
Although people may say that Maura is not the type of person to accept rides from strangers, it is possible under the circumstances that evening. I know that I have made plenty of stupid decisions when I was in college (walking home from bars alone, giving rides to strangers, accepting rides from strangers, letting people in my apt that I did not know, etc- these are all things that I have NEVER once shared with family/friends).
Just chiming in with some thoughts! This case continues to puzzle me.