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Mother Who Killed 7 Was Heavy Smoker and Drinker
7-Nov-2009
Written by: Blakely
New information revealed to families of those who died in a July car accident provides contradictory details about the driver’s habits.
The husband of the mother who killed 7 people now appears to have greatly understated his wife’s use of marijuana and alcohol.
On July 26, Diane Schuler drove the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway and collided with an SUV filled with three Yonkers men. The accident caused the deaths of Schuler, her daughter and three nieces that were in the car and the driver and passengers in the SUV. Toxicology reports done on Schuler showed a B.A.C. of .19 percent and high levels of marijuana in her system, according to Newsday.
Daniel Schuler, Diane’s husband, told police that his wife was absolutely not an alcoholic and smoked pot only occasionally to relieve stress. A report shown to family members of Michael Bastardi and his son Gary, two of the men in the SUV who were killed, contradicts Daniel’s assertions.
According to Diane’s sister-in-law, the mother was both a heavy drinker and smoker. This information was revealed to family members on Friday and then passed on to the media through their lawyer, Irving Anolik.
“Joan Schuler said that the deceased smoke marijuana virtually every single day of her life,” Mr. Anolik said, reports the New York Times. The source also informed the police of Diane’s drinking habits.
“She confirmed the fact that she liked the liquor,” Anolik said. “She was a hard drinker.”
An investigator hired by Daniel Schuler confirms his client’s claims, however. Thomas Ruskin has said that his company was not able to find any support for claims of Schuler’s substance abuse, even after interviewing more than 50 witnesses.
Schuler’s attorney did not return calls to either the New York Times of Newsday.
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