The Harshest Drunk Driving Lesson
“Over the Limit, Under Arrest.”
“Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.”
“Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving.”
All the slogans we’ve heard over the years in countless media campaigns against driving under the influence. All of them dwarfed in meaning and power on this day, when one of the harshest lessons ever on the dangers of drinking and driving is blaring from television sets and radios and websites across the Tri-State and the nation: Diane Schuler, the Long Island woman behind the wheel in the Taconic Parkway accident that killed her and seven other people, including four children, was drunk. She was plastered, blitzed, wasted, however you want to put it; her blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit, and she was high on marijuana, as well.
This story has haunted people since the day the accident happened late last month, first because of the shared communal pain of such an immense tragedy happening nearby; now because of the knowledge that it never had to happen at all; that it wasn’t a cruel twist of fate, or the result of an unknown medical condition. Those consolations we wishfully projected have been eradicated, now that we know if was the worst of human errors that was behind it all. A woman drank to excess, smoked pot, and then drove with a vehicle full of children. Little suffices as a response, except to say, God have mercy on her soul.
So many questions remain: did anybody know, really KNOW, that Diane Schuler had been drinking and getting high before departing that Sullivan County campground where they’d been on a family getaway? Her husband? Anybody camping nearby? It was a Sunday morning, for God’s sake. Why did she have enough sense left to pull over and call her husband to tell him she was feeling sick and disoriented, but then get back in the minivan and continue on to their doom? Was she known to have a drinking problem, or was this an inexplicable one-time binge? If so, what set it off?
And then the hardest questions of all: what did those little children know as they climbed into that minivan? Did they know something was terribly wrong? Were they calling for Schuler to please stop and pull over? Or did they sit quietly, trusting that as strange as things might have felt, their mom, or their aunt, was a responsible adult who would take care of them?
It’s the harshest drunk driving lesson I can recall. Don’t, don’t, don’t drink and drive. I say that to myself, to my adult family members, and to you.
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Comments: 21
I think many people have the same questions on this accident (or some would like murder), and we have more questions than answers.
DUI is not limited to teenagers (although this group is especially easy to be DUI), it applies to anyone who try to be a smartaxx, and are too proud to admit they are too drunk that they are in no condition of driving.
Well, what more can I say? We can make more harsh DUI laws to try to prevent DUI, but they can do little to prevent smartaxx people with stupidity and no common sense. By the way, I support charge DUI drivers with murder.
It makes me terribly sad to think of the terror those children experienced in the last hour of their life.
It's hard to believe that the driver was
able to keep her substance abuse from her
family. Family members should have never
trusted her to be the sole driver with children
in the car.
Also, I think the (3) men killed by this
woman received little attention.
It is murder.
It's hard to believe that the driver was
able to keep her substance abuse from her
family. Family members should have never
trusted her to be the sole driver with children
in the car.
Also, I think the (3) men killed by this
woman received little attention.
It is murder.
This is tragic and unbelievable that this could happen in this day and age. Innocent lives would never had a chance, didn't the husband recognize she may have had a problem.
There is so much emphasis on cigarette smoking
killing so many Americans each year. I think
we better take another look at drunk drivers
killing themselves and innocent people.
Why is it we see so much wine drinking on TV
shows and movies?? Just like in the 30's and
40's, cigarette smoking was popular.
Is wine the new cigarette?
There is so much emphasis on cigarette smoking
killing so many Americans each year. I think
we better take another look at drunk drivers
killing themselves and innocent people.
Why is it we see so much wine drinking on TV
shows and movies?? Just like in the 30's and
40's, cigarette smoking was popular.
Is wine the new cigarette?
Dear Jim,
During the newscast on Monday August 3, 2009, you reported on a horse that died while pulling a carriage with two newlyweds on board. The horse suffered, collapsed and died likely due to complications of exhaustion and the heat. I read that the horse was 23 years old. Typical that the owner/carriage driver would be looking to get every last ounce of effort from this animal for hire, without any regard for the horse's well being. I do have a problem with the continued exploitation of carriage horses, but I have a greater problem with the manner in which you read this story. There was a very evident smile, all be it slight, on your face as you seemed to find some amusement in the "uncomfortable moment", or words to that effect, that the newly weds must have experienced. There was no amusement or lightheartedness in this story Jim. Playfulness might have it's place during the newscast, but you picked the wrong time to reach for a cheap chuckle. I would have thought that you are well above such inappropriate antics. Apparently not. Jim, please do yourself a favor and watch the clip back on video. Take a close look at your face during your read. Listen to your words and tone, and ask yourself if your handling of this story was professional. Perhaps you did find some twisted, poorly timed humor in the circumstances involved in this story. I ask that you do more to select the time and place for introducing comedy into your routine. Clearly you embarrassed Kaite, who was quick to get in the last word by saying how sad the story was. Jim, please go out and cover a story about the cruelty of the carriage horse industry. You might just learn something.
Jim
Maybe this one is the silver bullet that gets people mad enough. Maybe this time the victims won't have died in vein. This is the rally cry, folks. There are too many cars on the road and too many irresponsible adults to be trusted to do the right thing. It's time to take matters out of their hands. Reaction management does not work. It's time to pass some serious legislation. I would even support equipping ALL registered vehicles with devices that will turn on a car's engine only when the driver proves by a breath test that they are not intoxicated. Drastic? Yes. It's time to get drastic. Your rights? You do not have the right to drive. Driving is a privilege. If you cannot prove that you deserve the privilege to drive a car, then you need to be stopped. Enough people have died.
I also call into question of people that knew she had that problem with the bottle and marijuana. People around her knew. Why did they let her drive?
Besides, DWI, we also have to look into:
DW...
texting
on the phone
sleeping
impaired
road rage
old age, etc.
Anyone of these can cause the death of others.
It's so sad, it's always the innocents that sufferes the most.
DW...
texting
on the phone
sleeping
impaired
road rage
old age, etc.
people are supposed to have common sense to not doing these while driving, but people now a day are seriously lack of common sense for some reason
by the way, I have a few more interesting ones to add on.
brush teeth
changing clothes
reading
do make up
Jim,
My question is what was the approximate time difference from when the the father drove off to fish before the mother drove off to this tradegy. If the time span was short then toxicology report may suggest that the father may have witnessed his wife smoking and drinking before driving off into this disaster. If so then there is also the likelihood that he participated.
If so "And I pray it isn't" then he is liable for the horrific accident as well. He would have had the responsibility to keep his kids out of harms way. And if he did not then I pray for the surviving child and the eventual return to the father. Because if the lesson is not learned yet that child too may be in harms way when release from the hospital.
Sadder yet is if this turns out to be true and plays out for the safety of the child then the child will be seperated from his mother and siblings due to the horrific accident and from his father for not stopping the maddness that eventually ensued. But since that child may have to be protected it will hurt just as much.
This is a very sad story that I fear is going to get worse. I pray for the family, the father and the surviving child.
It just makes me sick to hear that this women who was entrusted with the care of her nieces and children would be so irresponsible and selfish to drive in such an inebriated condition. And what is with the husband casually ignoring this if he was with her. he mustve seen or noticed something. can you imagine how Mr and Mrs. Hance now feels and Bastardios knowing that it wasnt just an accident, but a deliberate action taken on by someones sister. Disgusting and disturbing. Being a parent , I can only imagine the pain of losing a child by accident or by illness, but on purpose now. She isnt going where god will have mercy on her. She is forever punished with this action for all eternity. Heaven is saved for those poor unsuspecting victims doomed to cross her destructive path
You want to kill yourself?
Go ahead but leave the kids alone!
Lowlifes!
Dear Jim,
As a mother of three beautiful teenagers, and an aunt of three beautiful children, I myself am grief-stricken at this senseless tragedy. I feel angry that four beautiful young innocent promising lives were cut short. Plus, the lives of three innocent men going about their day. I love my family with all my heart. My husband laughed at me when-ever I would smooch my kids with kisses before leaving for school. Needless to say he doesn't laugh at me any more, because I now include him just before I walk out the door. We never know, do we, what the day will bring. Just hug and kiss your loved ones, and don't forget to give thanks to God for every moment we have together.
The reports say that she had undigested alcohol in her stomach and that the weed was in her system from an hour to 15 minutes before the crash. This seems to be all on her. The couple separated in the morning at 9:30 and she crashed 4 hours later. Sounds like she was swigging her bottle and smoking pot during the drive.
With such tragedy - people are always looking for someone to blame. What I don't understand is why she had ALL the children. The family could have all stopped for breakfast in 2 cars. This tragedy only seems to only get weirder. Perhaps when the boy recovers, we'll get more answers. . . or more questions?
Hey,folks.. Jim Watkins here.
thanks for your thoughts on the compounded sadness of the Taconic Crash after the toxicology report on Diane Schuler came out.
But I want to respond here to Jim, who commented on my presentation of a story the other night about a carriage horse dying suddenly as it was pulling a newlywed couple.
Jim, you're absolutely right, and I apologize. I was seeing some dark humor in the plight of the couple--what a thing to have happen just as you're beginning your life together--and gave little or no thought to the fate and feelings of the horse.. a fate that should have removed any possible humor from the situation.
You also pointed out to me how my "logic" that since the horse was quite old, it wasn't really that tragic, was way off base.. exactly wrong, in fact. The fact that the horse WAS that old is exactly why it SHOULDN'T have been forced to pull a heavy carriage on pavement-- I know many people believe NO horses should be made to do that, regardless of age.
Thank you for pointing out these matters to me.. I pledge to you that I'll be more respectful in the future on similar stories that concern the treatment of animals.
Best... Jim
Jim,
In these times of no responsibility or accountability it is heartning to know you are a big enough man to recognize a mistake and make apology to those offended by what appeared to be amusing to you when reading your story about the death of the carriage horse. I respect and applaud you for making this apology.
Hi Jim,
Although this was a case of alleged drunk driving with drugs invovled, this can also easily happen to people who are extremely tired or have a lack of sleep.
Anytime someone gets behind the wheel, make sure that you are:
a. not drunk
b. not high or not on meds
c. not fatigued (tired, sleepy, etc)
d. not texting or messaging
e. not emotionally upset
Any of these can and may cause:
a. erratic driving behavior
b. erroneous decisions
c. accident
d. death
Any kind of distraction from driving is hazardous to oneself and others. Perhaps defensive driving should be a required course before getting a license?
I am a family member of a person who has 1 DUI, lost his license for 90 days, and once the court gave him his license back, he was back to driving drunk. We have begged, and pleaded with him not to drink and drive, however, he lives alone and we don't usually know that he has driven drunk until after the fact. He refuses treatment, AA, and to have someone live with him. Basically, he refuses to admit he's an alcoholic and is slowly eliminating everyone from his life that will try to stop him from drinking. The courts gave him back his license, and we have no legal avenue to get it taken away from him, since he hasn't technically been caught again driving drunk. AA tells us you can't help them till they want the help. All we can do is lose sleep and pray. It's easy to preach about what family and friends SHOULD do, but when you are in the situation, there is nothing you can do. In a way, the law seems to protect the right of a drunk to drive once he has his license back, and regardless of whether he's still a drunk. Any help or advise?
I am a family member of a person who has 1 DUI, lost his license for 90 days, and once the court gave him his license back, he was back to driving drunk. We have begged, and pleaded with him not to drink and drive, however, he lives alone and we don't usually know that he has driven drunk until after the fact. He refuses treatment, AA, and to have someone live with him. Basically, he refuses to admit he's an alcoholic and is slowly eliminating everyone from his life that will try to stop him from drinking. The courts gave him back his license, and we have no legal avenue to get it taken away from him, since he hasn't technically been caught again driving drunk. AA tells us you can't help them till they want the help. All we can do is lose sleep and pray. It's easy to preach about what family and friends SHOULD do, but when you are in the situation, there is nothing you can do. In a way, the law seems to protect the right of a drunk to drive once he has his license back, and regardless of whether he's still a drunk. Any help or advise?