8 Die in Crash on Taconic State Parkway

[southcitymom]

At this stage in the game? He's been doing it all along, SCM. There were reports of lack of cooperation even before Barbara was on the scene.

And if it was me and my lawyer told me not to talk then I guess I would not talk but I also don't think I would have agreed to go on air and do a presser either!

Yes, at this stage in the game. It's been 12 days since the accident and not even a week since the tox report further undid his world.

I don't know what his lawyer has or hasn't told him to do, but if I retained a lawyer I would listen to what he told me to do.

 

[southcitymom]

South City Mom, I completely enjoy your comments. You bring life experiences to these discussions, and I thank you for your candidness.

I may not agree with you on some points, and thats that, but I do look forward to reading your comments.

ps. On Barbara, I personally would not hire him to get me out of a parking ticket.

His past client base is not exactly stellar, (Joey Buttefucco is own of the more notorious) and he and his clients made $$ being media . I also recall something about him being a divorce attorney, and made the papers when his wife tossed a big bowl of spagetti on his head when she asked for him divorce. He was a regular on Howard Stern show during the Jessica Hahn/ Jim Baker nonsence as well.

The feeling is entirely mutual, zippity! :blowkiss:

 

[DeeMarie]

I remember a friend that use to drink bottles of wine out of her bedroom closet and NO ONE knew of it. Its so sad I wish there was an adult in the van that would have seen her state then maybe they would have not gotten in - BUT it was just young children, innocent victims not knowing that she was drunk. I can just imagine their fear in the van when she was driving erratically.
I still remember to this day when I was little I rode home with a drunk relative at the wheel. I was so scared.
My sister at 31 was killed by a man who was drunk driving her jeep. She riding with him sitting in back and he rolled the jeep. She flew out of the back and landed on her head and died instantly. I never touched a drop of alcohol after that. Its so destructive. My prayers to the family.

 

[southcitymom]

I remember a friend that use to drink bottles of wine out of her bedroom closet and NO ONE knew of it. Its so sad I wish there was an adult in the van that would have seen her state then maybe they would have not gotten in - BUT it was just young children, innocent victims not knowing that she was drunk. I can just imagine their fear in the van when she was driving erratically.
I still remember to this day when I was little I rode home with a drunk relative at the wheel. I was so scared.
My sister at 31 was killed by a man who was drunk driving her jeep. She riding with him sitting in back and he rolled the jeep. She flew out of the back and landed on her head and died instantly. I never touched a drop of alcohol after that. Its so destructive. My prayers to the family.

I'm so sorry about your sister, DeeMarie. DWI takes a terrible toll on us all. Thank you for weighing in!

 

[Curious1381]

I just read this.

Daniel Schuler subject of Suffolk CPS probe, sources say

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/daniel-schuler-subject-of-suffolk-cps-probe-sources-say-1.1355949

 

[southcitymom]

I just read this.

Daniel Schuler subject of Suffolk CPS probe, sources say

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/daniel-schuler-subject-of-suffolk-cps-probe-sources-say-1.1355949

I'm not surprised, but right now I am hard-pressed to think he got on national TV and lied by saying he and everyone who knew his wife was stunned at the BAC and did not know her to be anything but a great person and Mom who drank and smoked occasionally.

 

[Curious1381]

I'm not surprised, but right now I am hard-pressed to think he got on national TV and lied by saying he and everyone who knew his wife was stunned at the BAC and did not know her to be anything but a great person and Mom who drank and smoked occasionally.

ITA. I don't believe that that he knew about it. I also believe she was sober when she left him at the campsite.

However, some of the people on the other sites will have a field day with this. I am amazed at the vile things they say and wish upon this man.

 

[southcitymom]

ITA. I don't believe that that he knew about it. I also believe she was sober when she left him at the campsite.

However, some of the people on the other sites will have a field day with this. I am amazed at the vile things they say and wish upon this man.

That's why I only hang out here and why this place rocks socks. I can only imagine what might be going on with this elsewhere....!

 

[chicagofa13]

Being discussed on HLN today. Sorry, I will have to side with people "at other sites". This whole family is infuriating. I wonder if we would have the same whiny excuses if she got drunk/high and fired a gun at these 7 people? Would it be murder then? Or would we dismiss it since the poor thing was drunk?

 

[Curious1381]

Being discussed on HLN today. Sorry, I will have to side with people "at other sites". This whole family is infuriating. I wonder if we would have the same whiny excuses if she got drunk/high and fired a gun at these 7 people? Would it be murder then? Or would we dismiss it since the poor thing was drunk?

Sorry, I realize I wasn't clear in what I said. I believe she was horribly wrong to be drunk/doped and driving, much less with children in the car. I don't believe that there is some hidden medical reason for her actions, nor can I imagine anything that would cause it.

However, some of the other blog posts practically want the husband's head. I believe that it is entirely possible that he didn't realize what was going on, and I don't think she left the campsite drunk. She had plenty of time to get into that condition between leaving and the accident. The man has suffered a horrible tragedy. I think if I were in his shoes, I would have hit the floor and not gotten up. It boggles my mind what all of those who lost loved ones are going through. Until I see something conclusive that says he was fully aware that she was driving in that condition, I see him as deserving of compassion. I wonder what it must be like to have had no knowledge of it, yet be blamed for it anyhow. That must only add to the misery. Just MHO.

 

[chicagofa13]

Sorry, I realize I wasn't clear in what I said. I believe she was horribly wrong to be drunk/doped and driving, much less with children in the car. I don't believe that there is some hidden medical reason for her actions, nor can I imagine anything that would cause it.

However, some of the other blog posts practically want the husband's head. I believe that it is entirely possible that he didn't realize what was going on, and I don't think she left the campsite drunk. She had plenty of time to get into that condition between leaving and the accident. The man has suffered a horrible tragedy. I think if I were in his shoes, I would have hit the floor and not gotten up. It boggles my mind what all of those who lost loved ones are going through. Until I see something conclusive that says he was fully aware that she was driving in that condition, I see him as deserving of compassion. I wonder what it must be like to have had no knowledge of it, yet be blamed for it anyhow. That must only add to the misery. Just MHO.

Sorry, I wasn't referring to you! :blowkiss:

I mean all the excuses the atty and the husband are coming up with. New one, a "bump" on her leg that might have been traveling to her heart? You gotta be joking. It is unreal. The husband should be giving his sympathies to the true victims, IMO, the other families. I am going to have to put a blackout on this story or lose my mind!

I've known a few alcoholics, and I realize they can be very, very sneaky. However, I don't care if it is a disease or not, if we allow this "disease" to be an excuse to commit crimes, we are headed down the wrong road.

Maybe it is time to get tough on known alcoholics. No car, no keys, no DL, no nothing. I mean if you have the "disease" you have to treat it!

 

[poco]

I know someone who finally get her license back after 5 years for a DUI (more than one). She has been clean and sober since then, but even after that, when she got her license back they installed one of those "blow and goes" in her car. Before she starts her car she has to blow in it and then during her driving she is prompted at various times to drive. I'll be talking to her on the cell while she is driving (I know, just as bad) and she will say "hang on, gotta blow."

 

[Pandora]

I know someone who finally get her license back after 5 years for a DUI (more than one). She has been clean and sober since then, but even after that, when she got her license back they installed one of those "blow and goes" in her car. Before she starts her car she has to blow in it and then during her driving she is prompted at various times to drive. I'll be talking to her on the cell while she is driving (I know, just as bad) and she will say "hang on, gotta blow."

OT: My brother hates those things. He's a mechanic and it is infuriating to try to have the engine running while working under the hood and having to go "blow" every 10 minutes to keep it going. (He also explained to me how to get around the system if you're drunk. It is waaaay too easy.)

 

[bogeygal]

Sole survivor of taconic Parkway accident is concious and healing

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/08/07/2009-08-07_sole_survivor_conscious_and_healing.html

IDK if this has already been posted.

 

[Kat]

Issues with JVM discussing this case right now. Just a FYI.

 

[redheadedgal]

From the looks of it, we have a difference of opinion on this board about that. Frankly, I would never talk to LE about anything where there was a remote possibility of being considered a "suspect" or being held liable in civil court for something...

i guess we disagree - and that's okay.

if he had nothing to hide and hasn't been untruthful, there's no reason to not speak with LE. he'd have no reason to fear being a "suspect" or even arrested, charged and convicted of crimes (or civil judgments) if there is no evidence to back-up the allegations. if he hasn't done anything wrong or knew about diane's alleged drinking, there would be nothing for LE to use against him... and he shouldn't be concerned or scared about this. and i agree - there's nothing wrong with obtaining a lawyer, but one should still attempt to answer LE's questions... sure, if your lawyer says "don't answer that one" then don't... but to not even be willing to speak with LE and attempt to assist the investigation answering as many questions as a lawyer will allow raises a red flag. add to this the lawyer throwing in every medical possibility (diabetes, leg pain, tooth abscess), it just reeks of "cover up" ... the "throw in everything but the kitchen sink" defense :crazy:

(btw, i'd love to see what a body language expert has to say about that news conference...)


on another related topic: the caption under this photo says all 5 were thrown from the minivan... does that mean the kids weren't even wearing seat belts? or is it possible the force of the crash ripped the belts/hurdled the kids out of them and out of the vehicle? if they weren't wearing them, i cannot buy the "she was a great mom" rhetoric. chances are, if kids weren't belted in, it wasn't the first time.

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/complete-coverage-tragedy-on-taconic-parkway-1.1330762

 

[CatMama3]

However, I don't care if it is a disease or not, if we allow this "disease" to be an excuse to commit crimes, we are headed down the wrong road.

Maybe it is time to get tough on known alcoholics. No car, no keys, no DL, no nothing. I mean if you have the "disease" you have to treat it!

snipped by me

No one in his right mind would allow this disease to be used as an excuse to commit crimes. And I've yet to see anyone on this thread somehow excuse Diane Shuler's behavior. What she did was reprehensible.

The only things I've read (and posted) are insights and explanations about how she could behave the way she did, especially with her children and nieces in the vehicle. I am not an addict, but I know several in recovery, and from their stories, I can imagine how this woman came to this point.

You can't force an addict into treatment. All you do is waste time, money and resources on a person who will use the minute they're out of treatment. You can take away their DL and their vehicles, but unless you guard them 24/7, they can find a way around it. It happens every day. This is a disease of the mind, not the body.

Drug and alcohol related arrests, injuries and deaths occur every day without fail. The only reason this particular case is attracting so much attention is because of the number of needless deaths and the seeming contradiction of a suburban working mother who was a closet addict.

 

[Lexington]

Instead of calling press conferences and appearing on national TV, why not schedule a second private autopsy? It hasn't been done, and I'm sure it will never be done, because the results would be the same and Barbara and the Schulers who are supporting his ridiculous theories know it. A traveling lump on the leg, an abcessed tooth, gestational diabetes in a woman who is not pregnant - how stupid is this. If this were not such a tragic, horrible event, we would be laughing at Barbara's explanations. What a jerk.

 

[Noway]

My gestational diabetes corrected itself once my children were born (had it with both).

Women who had gestational diabetes face a greater risk of developing diabetes. Perhaps it was a mistake on the husband's part (if he was the first one to mention this). Diabetes and low blood sugar could definitely make someone disoriented (more so, if that someone were drunk).

I did hear on (I think) Issues with JVM, someone saying that in cases of heat being present (like the car on fire) there could be higher BAC levels (false highs).

I'll check the transcript and see who said it/what was actually said.

Not posted yet, but putting link here so I can check and edit later.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/ijvm.html

 

[Trino]

This is so confusing. Where are those who sold her alcohol or who witnessed her buying it? Where are those who suspected? Surely there must be one person who can attest to her alcoholism.