This article explores the plausible connection between binge eating and binge drinking as a possible explanation for Diane Schuler's mysterious drunk driving accident that killed herself and seven others.
On Sunday, July 26, 2009, 36-year-old Schuler drove a Ford WindStar Minivan for 1.7 miles the wrong way down the Taconic Parkway, a scenic highway in New York. Witnesses say she was driving in a perfectly straight line at about 70 mph. At exactly 1:35 pm, Schuler crashed head-on into an SUV, which then hit another car.
Schuler, her two-year old daughter, Erin, and her three young nieces, Emma, Kay, and Alyson Hanse, were instantly killed. So were Guy Bastardi, Michael Bastardi, and Daniel Longo, the passengers in the oncoming SUV. Schuler’s five-year old son, Bryan, survived the accident with serious injuries, but all he recollects is that mommy had a headache and she couldn’t see. There were two other survivors in the third vehicle, but they escaped with minor injuries.
This was the most deadly accident on a New York Westchester County highway since 1934. Of course, all the deaths were tragic, but public sympathy ignited around Schuler's brother because all of his children died in the accident. Picture three smiling, long-haired girls all under the age of nine. However, the feeling of tragedy quickly morphed into rage when the toxicology report showed that at the time of her death, Schuler was high on marijuana and had the equivalent of 10 drinks in her blood (and even more undigested alcohol in her stomach). How could this happen to a woman responsible for transporting five children home from a happy weekend camping trip?
Schuler’s husband, Daniel, steadfastly proclaimed that Diane was no drunk. In an effort to clear Schuler's name, Daniel immediately lawyered up with Dominic Barbara, a high-profile attorney, and he hired Thomas Ruskin, a public investigator, to help make the case for Diane's innocence. Then, as now, Daniel paints a wholesome picture of Schuler as a perfect wife, an outstanding mother, and someone who didn't have a drinking problem. It’s still unknown how and why a dearly beloved, reliable mom from West Babylon (Long Island) who held a six-figure management job at Cablevision ended up drunk, high, and dead and took seven others along with her.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Alicia
The Hance daughters names are Emma, Kate, and Alyson not Kay. Other than that very interesting article and something I never would have thought of.
2 - carolynn
A tragedy of enormous proportions, and one that everyone can imagine themselves being swept into. Eager to read more about what the author, Karen Bentley, has to say...
3 - Roseann
Dear Karen, that was my brother and father that were killed by the so called "binge drinker," who in my eyes was an alcoholic. Her family was aware of her pot smoking, and I am sure they knew she drank. The loss of my father and brother was just as much a tragedy for my entire family as any other loss that day. I disagree with your equation of loss. Seventeen grandchildren lost their Grandfather and Uncle that day, the grief continues.
4 - Karen Bentley
Hello dear Roseann, thank you so much for taking the time to read my article and for sharing your experience and opinion. I can understand the heartbreak of losing a father and a brother. Deepest sympathies to you and your entire family. And love, love, love to you all.
5 - Julie
This is an interesting article, I watched the documentary this Sunday, and the story has affected me greatly. Unfortunately we will never really know the truth, the only person who knows is gone forever. I feel lots of pain for all 3 sides, one side lost a mother and wife, one side lost all 3 children, one side lost a father, brothers, grandfather, uncles etc. The one fact is one person actions caused a lifetime of pain for so many people. Everyone has issues, faults, and demons, we will never know why she chose to drink and do drugs that day, and we can come up with different reason but at the end of the day no one knows why, and that is the hardest thing about this case. I hope time can heal these families, the pain will never go away, but hopefully everyday gets a little brighter for them.
6 - aya yassen
i think that the mommy was drinking many so when the Alcohol is accumulate in her nervous system and it passes a sign to the blood to take the alcohol and pass it throw the arteries and veins and when the blood goes to all the cells of course it will go to eye system or eye cell and it will make her out of control and this the reason why she did this bad accident !
7 - Marc Jenks
While the drink and drugs in her system is clear, it is also clear that at some point during that car journey she made a conscious decision to end her life, the witness reports all state she had lots of opportunities to turn off the road or stop and was very deliberate and driving in a straight line at over 70mph, she knew shew was drunk and unfit to drive as she had stopped at the side of the road numerous times before in the previous hour, I think the shame of her brother's family finding out what state she was in and her resentment for her mother made her decide to give up, a real tragedy that she took those kids with her, my heart goes out to all the victims.
8 - Deanna
I watched this documentary on Sunday too. The story has haunted me ever since. I can't get it out of my head. This woman was a real life functioning alcoholic. If you've never observed one before - this is what they look like. Believe me, I speak from experience. I have been sober for 21 years. I have been in many an AA meeting and seen many, many people die of this disease. I suppose the story has caught my attention because I know all too well that "but for the grace of God go I"!! It breaks my heart to see so many innocent men and children loose their lives because one alcohlic was in a blackout. My thoughts and prayers go out to their families. No one ever heals from a tragedy like this one. There are no words of condolence, only the truth of the reality that alcohlism kills. I am so very grateful for my sobriety. May the grace of God be with you!
9 - Cathy
Very well done documentary - I recently watched it. Very strange story, although I came away convinced that Diane was drunk and high, and that at some point during the drive, she may have purposely chosen to end her life. It's too bad she couldn't see straight enough to drop off the kids by the side of the road before she did so. My prayers go out to the victims and their families. Also, I pray that Danny Schuler will stop causing more pain (to himself, his son, and countless others) by denying the truth. He (Danny) needs counseling.
10 - Corie Johnson
This story is just so sad, the grief that all involved are feeling is unimaginable. i can say as a recovering alcoholic that you are not in your right state of mind when you drink, and sometimes you don't even know what you are doing. i also know many people who drink and drive and think they are invincible and their families know they do this and just let it slide, until one day something horrible like this happens and they are forced to look at the bad choices a loved one made and the grief and guilt causes denial.
11 - Will
Articles like this make me realize that I too could write 17 books.
12 - Zuzzy Wuzzy
I don't get it. Is this providing some sort of rationale for the behavior she exhibited that day? She was not higely obese, and photos show she was always built on the heavy side. If she had a problem with pot, alchol and food, it seems it was a deeper mental issue and all these things are symptoms of her personality disorder. She was also reported to be an overly controlling person, in her marraige, with her friends and in all parts of her life. Her problems were deep and innocent people paid the price. I don't see how binge eating has any relevance, she had many other more serious problems that resulted in her murder-suicide that day. She was on a mission to end it all and punish the people who she percieved wronged her (her cheating lying husband and her brother who tried to exert his power over her).
13 - Zuzzy Wuzzy
Also, I see no scientific link mentioned or justified in this article. The husbands denial is deep and is a codependent aspect of this story. He looks like he has a problem with food too based on his size. It was probably her that overfed him in part of her illness. If she was a functional pot head/alcholoic then something else triggered that days events. Research it, her husband lied about where he was the day before the camping trip, he said he never wanted kids, she felt wronged and punished him, taking the kids and herself away from him. She punished her brother whose kids she killed after the phone calls where he told her to stay put. Instead, she drove in the opposite direction so he couldn't find her and then purposefully drove the wrong way. She knew what she was doing and was not incapacitated, rather she used vodka and pot to give her the courage she needed to end it all.
14 - virginia
As a recovering alcoholic and a woman, I understand the secrecy involved in maintaining a habit, and the shame involved. The tragedy Schuler inflicted on so many people is unimaginable...but the denial of her husband is also a tragedy.....he needs a LOT of counselling, and so does that poor little boy. Unless he is somehow rescued, I fear for his future.
15 - Gracie
As a career woman, mother and alcoholic. I was this woman at one time in my life. Alcoholics (especially women)are very good at deception. For one, I drank all the time and no one knew. I worked, cooked, cleaned, went to ball games and not one person suspected a thing. I hid bottles where I knew no one would look. The only person that questioned me was my mother, on a visit she payed to my home. I was drinking vodka, in a coffee cup, yes coffee and vodka. If you are a alcoholic you will go to any length to get your drug. My opinion on that day, she got up hung over and was stressed out and thought just one drink in my soda and kept on going. One thought when she went in the gas station, I bet you she was looking for booze. I have done this on several occasions. I'm clean now and by the grace of god didn't hurt anyone or myself. To the husband you are in major denial, mine was too. Not your fault, she was just really good at hiding her addiction from all that knew her.
16 - Jim Shier
Did anyone consider that this was maybe a diabetic attack? She was overweight! I watched the doc yesterday and at one point the husband asked if it could have been a stroke, caused by a tooth problem, leading her to derink vodka, thinking it was water. SOunds nuts and so does the way she was driving. When one has a diabetic attack, they can really go nuts. She could have easily drank the vodka, nopt knowing what she was doing, if she was having a diabetic attack or stroke.
17 - Suzanne G
After watching this documentary the thing I found most frustrating was that Daniel (Diane's husband) was unable to secure the necessary permits to have her exhumed and a second autopsy performed. Does anyone know why the state did not allow this? Eight people died that terrible day and there is alot that still makes no sense. I have seen this case argued over and over but at the end of the day no-one really knows why she did this. There's the theory that she was a functional alcoholic and hid her problem well but if that's the case why would she drink heavily and smoke pot knowing that she had to see her brother and sister in-law in a short while when she dropped off their children? If she was so careful about hiding her addiction it does not make sense that she would show up drunk. I also struggle with the theory that she was trying to kill herself...there is no basis for anyone especially those that never met this women to assume that. It also came across to me in the documentary that the private investigator would not hand over the physical evidence (blood samples)...again WHY? He stated to the producer that it was not worth his time or money....didn't the family pay him $20000 to get that evidence? Why could Daniel not have Diane exhumed...perhaps a second autopsy might have revealed that she had something medically wrong with her...or sadly it may have just confirmed again that she was drunk/high that day and nothing more. For me the challenges the family had getting the results and obtaining a second autopsy seem a little to political.
18 - Al Porter
The most likely reason why this story is so vexing to most is the utter lack of understanding of BPD - Borderline Personality Disorder. People with BPD can lead normal lives on the outside but be chaotic and troubled privately. The filmmakers stressed Diane's mother leaving at 9 for a very good reason - severe childhood abandonment trauma is the most significant cause of BPD. Some theorize that she was faced with a event that triggered a massive abandonment fear- perhaps Danny asked for a divorce and custody of the kids. The dredged up massive fears and she probably felt she not live with the outcome, and felt her children would go through the same trauma she did. So she ended her life and theirs. And this also fulfilled another twisted desire - to avenge her mother's abandonment of her by taking away her mother;s most cherished things - her grandchildren. Do a web search on BPD and it will all make sense. No matter how you look at it, the booze or drugs angles don't add up.
19 - THE_MAD_BOMBER
WHY IS THIS OLD SEWAGE STILL BEING PARADED IN PUBLIC???!!! THE WHOLE THING HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO!!!! WHO TODAY CARES ABOUT OR REMEMBERS ANYTHING ABOUT IT???!!! IT'S TIME TO STOP LIVING IN THE PAST & MOVE ON!!!!
NOW SHAAADDDUUUPPP ALREADY!!!!!!
20 - Shaun T
"A hidden alcoholic is someone who controls his or her drinking so well that it isn’t noticed. There are no obvious clues or red flags. One organization estimates that for every alcoholic who admits his or her drinking problem, there are nine more who remain hidden. Most are women, and vodka is their preferred hard liquor of choice. Vodka, after all, looks like water and is easily disguised or added to other drinks. It doesn’t leave your breath reeking, and it doesn’t have a strong or objectionable flavor." I disagree and agree with this statement. I lived with a woman who was an alcholic and vodka was her drink of choice and I could instantly tell when she drank, you can always tell by their eyes.
21 - FIZZY WIZZY
TO THE_MAD_BOMBER..............
I AGREE WITH YOU 100%!!!!!
22 - Sandy
This is so tragic, To the Basteri and Hance families, my deepest condolences for your loss. Nobody will every know the reason for Diane Schuler's actions that day, we can speculate all we want but her secrets died with her. To all the innocent lives lost that day, rest in peace and may God be with you
23 - Bruce Hochman
The bottom line. Diane was drunk and high and was directly responsible for ending 7 innocent peoples lives. What her motive was has no bearing on this case. Her husband is in the big state of denial.
24 - TayTay4230
I love how people automatically go to "Diane was an alcoholic". Think about this from an investigative standpoint--Diane was seen an hour before the tragic crash in a gas station and was COMPLETELY normal. No stumbling, no incoherence, nothing. Then all of a sudden an hour later the drink/drugs are affecting her that way? There is more to this story than meets the eye. I have always leaned toward some neurological sort of problem--thats the only way to explain this. Even the claims from the son that "mommy can't see and her head hurts" lends itself to this theory. Not only that, do you know an alcoholic who would load up a van full of kids including their own and then put them in danger like that purposefully? When every one else that knew her and saw her on a daily basis could vouch for her devotedness as a mother? There are too many things in this case that don't add up--thats why you shouldn't be so quick to blame her and call her an alcoholic and a drug addict. I'm not saying she didn't drink or smoke pot--but I don't think that's all that caused this tragedy. You don't have that much in your system and seem normal an hour before you die. That doesn't happen. And she obviously wasn't that way when she left the camp site, because her husband would not have let her drive his own kid or nephews/nieces were she that intoxicated. Im just saying...
25 - MLL
This story will remain a mystery as far as the reason why it happened. As far as something medical happening to her like a stroke caused by a toothache - the autopsy report was looked over twice by top experts that said nothing medical happened to her. The brain looked normal and no sign of a stroke. The blood was tested twice and her DNA was tested as well. I do agree there's more to this story. I think her husband knew of her problems, but didn't know how to handle it. By the way he acted on the documentary I could see where he may have tried to cover up what he knew. One thing that struck me was how his sister-in-law was so attentive to him. In fact, I thought a little too attentive. Maybe she knew something as well. We may never know. I feel sorry for the surviving son because he's going to have alot to deal with. Hopefully they'll all get counseling. It's up to the surviving family to make sure he gets the help he needs to insure that he has a normal life as possible. My heart goes out to everybody involved in this tragedy.