8 Die in Crash on Taconic State Parkway #2

[Fairy1]

Was there anything new in the book that we didn't get from the new reports or the documentary? I'm surprised they didn't offer it as a cheaper e-book if the motivation was to get their side out there.

What is their side?

I think the Hances would have had to have been included in all the suits since they owned the car. I am surprised to hear the Bastardi family member authoring the book went vitriolic against the Hances when the new reports did not reveal those feelings.

I don't understand why you're surprised. And we should not forget that Warren not only lost all of his children that day, but his sister and a niece as well...

I agree that the police should have been called, but it would not have prevented the crash because of the close timing of her last call and the impact and the fact that Diane was headed away from home at the time of the crash.

Did you read the whole post? I know you saw the documentary. The police were called numerous times.

I'm not surprised they are looking for someone alive to blame and looking for ways the crash could have been prevented....as my fellow poster says, that is only human nature.

I'm not surprised either. I get it. But, IMO, the anger and sense of loss of ALL the survivors is misdirected. The killer, no matter the circumstances, is gone.

I do understand the anger, extreme sense of loss, and most of the lawsuits. But I don't understand the need to blame any of the survivors or the desire to gain anything, monetarily.

 

[Nova]

I was imprecise, but c'mon. There's documents filed in the prothonotary's office and then there's hiring a lawyer from Howard Stern's wack pack and holding press conferences and appearing on Oprah and Larry King and taking money for a documentary.

Oh, okay, I see now. I was asking sincerely because I didn't understand what you meant, but now I do.

I don't have access to his checkbook, but we know from the doc that Dan has never been a big wage earner. Now, in addition to the regular household expenses, he has various treatments for Bryan. I hope at least some of that is covered by insurance, but who knows these days?

Bottom line: Dan went from having a wife in management to being a single parent with a disadvantaged son. Maybe he just needs the money.

To my knowledge, in his public appearances Dan has not criticized the Bastardis, he has simply questioned the coroner's conclusions. I still don't see why that is wrong.

 

[twinkiesmom]

What is their side?

Diane murdered their family.

don't understand why you're surprised. And we should not forget that Warren not only lost all of his children that day, but his sister and a niece as well...

I'm surprised because the Hances donated money from their daughters' foundation to the Bastardis. I would have thought there was a warmer relationship there.

Did you read the whole post? I know you saw the documentary. The police were called numerous times.

I was thinking of calling 911 as a first response. (But I agree with the documentary that it would not have made a difference...This crime was unpreventable by outsiders from the time that Diane entered the exit ramp.)

I'm not surprised either. I get it. But, IMO, the anger and sense of loss of ALL the survivors is misdirected. The killer, no matter the circumstances, is gone.

I do understand the anger, extreme sense of loss, and most of the lawsuits. But I don't understand the need to blame any of the survivors or the desire to gain anything, monetarily.

I don't understand the motivation to try to paint this as an accident when it was a violent crime.

Diane's estate is liable for the losses of the 7 victims of this crime (and more if you include the Tallaricos). If you ignore the losses of pain and suffering and livelihoods of the adult victims, there are still funeral expenses for 7 other people. The other side is why should the perpetrator's spouse profit financially from Diane having ended her life and others' lives in this manner? This case is what civil liability was designed for.

 

[rpd113]

To my knowledge, in his public appearances Dan has not criticized the Bastardis, he has simply questioned the coroner's conclusions. I still don't see why that is wrong.

He hasn't criticized them, no. Nor has he acknowledged them meaningfully.

As to questioning the coroner's conclusions, he has the right to do that I suppose, even as baselessly as he has to this point. But you needn't do it on Larry King and Oprah. He could have hired Barbara/Ruskin to create another batch of testing quietly.

Are his actions making things significantly more painful for the Bastardis (and, I suspect, the Hances)? Only they can say for sure -- but it would sure annoy the hell out of me to not only keep seeing the case in the media but to have 90% of the talks focused on Saint Diane rather than the victims and grieving families.

IMO, the media blitz was totally unnecessary but for some combination of narcissism and denial.

 

[nosysw]

But I'm entitled to my opinion that some reactions here are based in emotions rather than reason.

Above SBM:

You absolutely are, Nova...but I for one (and it certainly drives my husband bonkers) believe that emotions (gut reactions) are often right on and everything in life is not logical and able to be "reasoned" out (plus, I have ADD and sometimes get lost in the "reason" of long posts, lol!)

:wagon: RSorensen!

Excellent and thought provoking first post...

My issue is suicide vs. compulsion...I believe (as I previously stated in an earlier post) that one can have an irresistible compulsion to do something-- which will later be seen by others as suicidal however the intent is to cause (or release) pain without real thought of the action being "suicide" or thinking through the realistic consequences...I have no idea if that makes sense or I'm stating it properly...

In any event, I'm glad you joined our discussion...

 

[Nova]

He hasn't criticized them, no. Nor has he acknowledged them meaningfully.

As to questioning the coroner's conclusions, he has the right to do that I suppose, even as baselessly as he has to this point. But you needn't do it on Larry King and Oprah. He could have hired Barbara/Ruskin to create another batch of testing quietly.

Are his actions making things significantly more painful for the Bastardis (and, I suspect, the Hances)? Only they can say for sure -- but it would sure annoy the hell out of me to not only keep seeing the case in the media but to have 90% of the talks focused on Saint Diane rather than the victims and grieving families.

IMO, the media blitz was totally unnecessary but for some combination of narcissism and denial.

But the so-called "media blitz" by Dan was nothing compared to the media assault on Diane. If anything Dan's efforts were just small steps toward (in his mind) setting the record straight.

 

[Mama-cita]

But the so-called "media blitz" by Dan was nothing compared to the media assault on Diane. If anything Dan's efforts were just small steps toward (in his mind) setting the record straight.

I don't find anything wrong with media assaulting a person who gets behind the wheel bombed and blitzed out of their mind on vodka, as well as stoned on pot to boot. Especially when said person carried out these vile actions with FIVE(!) small children in the car!!! IF she had lived, she would most certainly have faced criminal repercussions. The media did not vilify her, she did that on her own. He (Daniel) should have kept his mouth shut. There was no record to set straight. IMO, MOO and all that jazz...

 

[Nova]

I don't find anything wrong with media assaulting a person who gets behind the wheel bombed and blitzed out of their mind on vodka, as well as stoned on pot to boot. Especially when said person carried out these vile actions with FIVE(!) small children in the car!!! IF she had lived, she would most certainly have faced criminal repercussions. The media did not vilify her, she did that on her own. He (Daniel) should have kept his mouth shut. There was no record to set straight. IMO, MOO and all that jazz...

YOO, exactly. And Dan may have a different opinion.

I wasn't criticizing the media, just pointing out that there would have been a media blitz whether or not Dan spoke out.

 

[zippitydoda]

But the so-called "media blitz" by Dan was nothing compared to the media assault on Diane. If anything Dan's efforts were just small steps toward (in his mind) setting the record straight.

Oh, I think that’s a big stretch. Diane murdered 7 people, 4 of them children, 1 of them her own. Then to find out she was drunk and stoned. That's going to get a lot of press, and a person who commits such a selfish, cruel and far reaching crime against children is going to get called bad names - because they deserve them. If you don’t want to be called a child murdering drunk, don't be a child murdering drunk.

Daniel was the one who thrust this story into media orbit (see Cindy and George Anthony) with his bold face lies, and ridiculous claims of Diane having a bad tooth ache or phantom leg boils.

 

[Fairy1]

I don't find anything wrong with media assaulting a person who gets behind the wheel bombed and blitzed out of their mind on vodka, as well as stoned on pot to boot. Especially when said person carried out these vile actions with FIVE(!) small children in the car!!! IF she had lived, she would most certainly have faced criminal repercussions.

Of course she would have. I don't believe anyone here is disputing that.

The media did not vilify her, she did that on her own. He (Daniel) should have kept his mouth shut. There was no record to set straight. IMO, MOO and all that jazz...

Yes, the media has vilified Diane. But SHE IS DEAD. What more is there to gain from anyone continuing to vilify her? She's DEAD!!! The murderer is DEAD.

 

[zippitydoda]

Of course she would have. I don't believe anyone here is disputing that.

Yes, the media has vilified Diane. But SHE IS DEAD. What more is there to gain from anyone continuing to vilify her? She's DEAD!!! The murderer is DEAD.

Well, perhaps once her husband stops lying, calling press conferences and getting paid to appear in HBO documentaries, and he begins to quietly work towards moving on with his life, the media and others might move on too...

 

[Nova]

Oh, I think that’s a big stretch. Diane murdered 7 people, 4 of them children, 1 of them her own. Then to find out she was drunk and stoned. That's going to get a lot of press, and a person who commits such a selfish, cruel and far reaching crime against children is going to get called bad names - because they deserve them. If you don’t want to be called a child murdering drunk, don't be a child murdering drunk.

Daniel was the one who thrust this story into media orbit (see Cindy and George Anthony) with his bold face lies, and ridiculous claims of Diane having a bad tooth ache or phantom leg boils.

With all due respect, your own post contradicts itself. You are correct in the first paragraph that a crash that kills 8, including 4 children, is going to get a lot of media attention--particularly when it turns out alcohol was involved.

So to insist that Dan "was the one who thrust this story into media orbit" is nonsense.

 

[Mama-cita]

Well, perhaps once her husband stops lying, calling press conferences and getting paid to appear in HBO documentaries, and he begins to quietly work towards moving on with his life, the media and others might move on too...

AMEN!! Here here!

And when he stops the campaign for her to be canonized!!!!!

 

[Mama-cita]

Of course she would have. I don't believe anyone here is disputing that.



Yes, the media has vilified Diane. But SHE IS DEAD. What more is there to gain from anyone continuing to vilify her? She's DEAD!!! The murderer is DEAD.

What is to gain from trying to canonize her? What is to be gained by LYING and disputing toxicology reports, some of which THEY ORDERED themselves!!! He needs to shut his mouth and stop suing people.

 

[Mama-cita]

YOO, exactly. And Dan may have a different opinion.

I wasn't criticizing the media, just pointing out that there would have been a media blitz whether or not Dan spoke out.

(Sorry for three separate posts in a row(, I don't know how to do the fancy multi-quote thing.)

How do you think the "media assault" would have been assuaged if Daniel had simply acknowledged what happened as a terrible tragedy, sent CONDOLENCES to the other families devastated by his wife's recklessness, and made no further comment??? But he got up and time after time LIED!!! That is why the Bastardi's are holding on. The two sisters said as much in the documentary, all they wanted him to do was admit her mistake and express his sympathies for their loss. But he keeps acting like he has something to hide. All this media fallout is Daniel's own doing...

 

[nosysw]

Guys, I think we're going in circles...
People are making good points, some based on logic, some on gut instinct, and the truth is we will NEVER know everything because most of everything we want to know, died with Diane and those poor, innocent children...

Unless Daniel and/or Warren come up with something new in deposition of one of these many lawsuits, I don't think we will learn anything else.

We may have to agree to disagree...everyone on WS is allowed to have their own opinions and to speculate. That's why we're here and you all have given me much food for thought...

 

[nosysw]

(Sorry for three separate posts in a row(, I don't know how to do the fancy multi-quote thing.)

Above SBM:

No apologies needed but just in case you wanted to know...

Just click on the little " + icon on the bottom of the posts you want to quote-when you've clicked on all the ones you want hit "Post Reply"...

 

[sharkeyes]

...the truth is we will NEVER know everything because most of everything we want to know, died with Diane and those poor, innocent children...

Exactly, and as we all know, THAT is the maddening part. Diane appeared to have it all AND have it all under control [according to the doc and the articles I've read on-line], but to be CEO/COO and CFO of "Schuler Inc." could not have been easy...whatever it was that started the chain of events that day, whether it be something she was told or discovered on her own, had to have devastated her beyond her capacity to function rationally - this does not negate the fact that she committed a crime that day nor does it minimize the pain/suffering caused by her actions.

Unless Daniel and/or Warren come up with something new in deposition of one of these many lawsuits, I don't think we will learn anything else.

I agree, but I wonder if there's even a slight chance Brian will eventually be able to talk openly about what (if anything) he remembers. If given the chance, I think Brian could shed some light on the whole thing beyond the "her head hurt and she couldn't see" statement.

And Daniel, well, his own mother described him as being like Diane's "oldest child" in the doc, she also states how she [his mom] "spoiled" him and that Diane "spoiled" him too. That being said, in addition to the way he presents himself in doc, his behavior isn't all that out of character (IMO).

I have to say, the posts on this thread are a great read!

 

[Nova]

(Sorry for three separate posts in a row(, I don't know how to do the fancy multi-quote thing.)

How do you think the "media assault" would have been assuaged if Daniel had simply acknowledged what happened as a terrible tragedy, sent CONDOLENCES to the other families devastated by his wife's recklessness, and made no further comment??? But he got up and time after time LIED!!! That is why the Bastardi's are holding on. The two sisters said as much in the documentary, all they wanted him to do was admit her mistake and express his sympathies for their loss. But he keeps acting like he has something to hide. All this media fallout is Daniel's own doing...

(Don't worry about the multiple quotes. I know how to do multi-quotes and don't think of it most of the time.)

I'm sorry. I think this crash was a big story when it happened and an even bigger story when the BAC was revealed. I don't believe Dan had much to do with making it a news event.

As for the Bastardis, they filed suit, an act guaranteed to keep the crash in the news for years to come. It is absolutely their right to do so and I'm not blaming them.

But to blame Dan and his inability to apologize the way the Bastardis want is ridiculous.

 

[RSorensen]

Hello All. First I would like to thank those of you who offered such a warm welcome, especially since my first post looked like chapter one of War and Peace! I have been dying to chime in but had no electricity!

One individual asked if there was anything new in the Bastardi book. I would say no, unfortunately and I wouldn’t rush out to get it until the price comes down. It was for the most part speculating on why Diane’s husband was not confessing that he knew she was a drunk and why Mr. Hance had not tried to stop her. They also say that the stories keep changing but if one looks at what has been said and written about this, there is more consistency than not. I know I must sound like I am taking the side of the husband, but nothing could be further from the truth. I still believe that something he did lit the fuse for what ultimately caused this unspeakable tragedy. However, I still have problems with the Bastardi family approach.

One individual who responded to my post said that the Hances had to be included in the suits because the car belonged to them. No one is required to file suit, and no one who files suit “must” include people regardless of the circumstances. I and I’m sure others would feel better about it if they had taken the high road and not filed suit against the Hances. I am sure the Bastardi attorney played a significant role in convincing them to include the Hances, but one must always remember that 50% of the lawyers graduated in the lower half of their class.

Another issue that comes up in the Bastardi book is the continuous claim that the Hances are hiding from the authorities (which all evidence suggests is false) and if they would just come clean the mystery of the crash would be solved. This is quite stunning and confusing given that the Hances reached out to the Bastardi family early on and wanted to meet but the Bastardis turned them down. If they are searching so hard for the truth, such a meeting might have helped them find it, or at least help them to come to grips with reality or maybe help to sooth their obvious wounds. Sometimes coming face to face with people we think are our enemies helps us to realize the humanity in all of us. All of these people are suffering. I for one would have appreciated the Bastardi’s discussing the lawsuits and why they filed them in the book. It might have made their side of things more understandable. Instead, they pounded away at people who might not have any more answers than they do (although I still have to agree that Mr. Schuler probably knows more than he is willing to admit).

Regardless of some of the heated posts, this is a worthy website and I am enjoying the adult conversation – so unlike many other sites where people use the vehicle to take out their obvious frustrations. You’re a good group. Thanks.