Husband denies alcoholism in NY wrong-way crash
@whiteheather39 (24403)
United States
August 7, 2009 7:02am CST
I saw an interview this morning where it was said that what should have taken 1 1/2 hours took about four hours and the broken bottle of vodka was wone they kept in the car and carried it beack and forward to various social functions as the husband enjoyed a drink. My questions to you are: What did she do on the missing hours? Do you think it is a cover up against potential laws suits (one victims family says they will sue)? Do you think an alhoholic can hide their addiction from their spouse? Do you think the autopsy facts are not true?
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. — Despite the blood tests, broken vodka bottle and a minivan careering the wrong way down a highway to a fiery end, Daniel Schuler is positive his wife wasn't a drunk.
A possible stroke, a bump in her leg that kept moving, an old case of diabetes and an untreated abscessed tooth were more likely causes of Diane Schuler's disastrous drive with a vanload of small children that killed her and seven others, Schuler said."I go to bed every night knowing my heart is clear," Schuler said tearfully Thursday, in his first public comments since the July 26 crash that killed his wife, 2-year-old daughter and three young nieces. "She is not an alcoholic. Something medically had to happen."A broken, 1.75-liter bottle of Absolut vodka was recovered from Schuler's burned-up minivan on the Taconic State Parkway. Schuler's blood alcohol level was more than twice the state's legal limit, she had undigested alcohol in her stomach and high levels of the key ingredient in marijuana in her system, the Westchester County medical examiner's report said.
A preliminary autopsy ruled out a stroke, heart attack, or aneurysm, Westchester County officials said."I stand by those findings" county medical examiner Millard Hyland said Thursday.
But in an anguished, angry public appearance Thursday, Daniel Schuler and his attorney, Dominic Barbara, said other medical problems may have affected Schuler's thinking and caused her to drive erratically.
Barbara — a divorce attorney who has represented Joey Buttafuoco, actress Lindsey Lohan's father and Victoria Gotti — noted witnesses who saw Schuler on the highway reported she was driving erratically, moving in and out of lanes, honking her horn and flashing her headlights."This is not the actions of a person who is drunk," Barbara said. "And I think something happened to her brain."He said he couldn't explain the alcohol or marijuana in her system. "I'm not saying that test is wrong yet, but something had to happen," he said.
Daniel Schuler said the autopsy report was "not true.""She was never drunk since the day I met her. ... She was not a drinker," he said.
Nearly four hours later — after state police said she had been seen driving erratically on state roads — she drove onto a northbound exit ramp on the Taconic and began driving south in the fast line, continuing for 1.7 miles before she slammed head-on into an SUV. She was killed along with her daughter, nieces and the three men in the SUV.
Daniel Schuler said the couple went through a normal routine on the Sunday before he last saw her at the campsite, waking up early so he could get ready for a fishing trip and she could take the children home."She was fine," he said. "We had a cup of coffee in the morning, we packed the cars up like we always do and we headed out."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jAJAp341-paJmsICuZzSIf5lmV6wD99TUH882
1 person likes this
3 responses
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
7 Aug 09
yes a drunk can hide things from partner as if they are always drinking the partner has no way of knowing how they would act sober.
BUt this does sound that something was very wrong with her and I wouldnt thinkit was what they say they found! where and what happened in that 4 hours difference!
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
9 Aug 09
I agree I was fooled by one of my exes. I though he was just a social drinker...boy was I wrong!

@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 Aug 09
I think only time will tell, since the husband is having his wife's body exhumed for more tests, but I just can't help thinking the husband is in some kind of denial that his so-called perfect wife and mother to his children was a substance abuser.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
9 Aug 09
I am in agreement as it is very easy to hide substance abusee.
@syankee525 (6249)
• United States
7 Aug 09
well if she wasn't then i guess he's a fool. maybe he just think she had issues dealing with. sorry i dont feel for his wife at all. i feel for the others who got hurt or killed.




