Official: Wrong Way Crash Mom Drunk, High

(CBS/AP)  The Long Island mother who drove her minivan the wrong way down a surburban parkway before crashing in a wreck that killed eight people was drunk and high on marijuana at the time of the accident, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Westchester Country District Attorney Janet DiFiore said a medical examiner's report found that Diane Schuler's blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit. She says the autopsy also found that Schuler was impaired by marijuana.

Schuler, her 2-year-old daughter and three young nieces died in the July 26 crash on the Taconic Parkway in Westchester County. Three men in the SUV she hit also died.

Schuler's 5-year-old son survived

A complete toxicology report is expected to be released Wednesday, according to CBS station WCBS-TV in New York. On Monday, state police reported witness accounts indicated Schuler driving aggressively and erratically even before the deadly wreck.

Schuler and her family were on their way back home to Long Island after a weekend camping trip. Her husband, Daniel Schuler, told police that everything seemed fine when his wife left the campsite at 9:30. He headed off for a fishing trip.

But Schuler drove south on the parkway's northbound lane for nearly two miles, sending oncoming traffic scattering. Six motorists called 911 before the crash, reports WCBS.

According to witness reports compiled by police, a red Ford mini van - the same type that Schuler was driving - was spotted straddling two lanes, tailgating, flashing its headlight and beeping the horn.

One witnesses said the van tried to pass his vehicle on the shoulder of the highway and another said the van drove across a grass divider at one point on the highway, according to WCBS.

According to Warren Hance, her brother and the father of three of the victims, she called him that afternoon complaining of feeling ill and may have been disoriented. He told her to remain there and he would go meet her. She apparently ignored the offer.

The three other victims - Daniel Longo, 81-year-old Michael Bastardi and his 49-year-old son Guy - were in an SUV traveling northbound.

[Joeshirts]

I have been tring to think of HOW a thing like this could happen,how a red blooded american woman can get in a car, drive a few miles the wrong way with childern on board, have passing cars try to flag her down and still continue on driving . I have to conclude that this was a case of a depressed person that committed suicide with no reagard for the lifes others (the childern) that had the misfortune of being in the car. May God have mercey on her soul.

[chain2fate]

I know there are some people out there judging this woman but have no room to cast any stones. How many fathers out there are driving home from stadiums with their children and or other people's children after having beers at a baseball or football game? And don't tell me a few beers doesn't matter because it only took a couple drinks to kill my best friend. Don't get me wrong. I am definitely not defending this woman but I am annoyed at how people keep hearing this story and think you have to be a zombie in order to get into a crash.

[Joeshirts]

I just have one thing to say.. ONE YEAR MANDITORY PRISION TIME FOR DWI. It,s the only way we can begin putting an end to a problem thats been killing people for way too long. Words can't beging to express how angry I am!

[momieof5]

I am a mom of five children..this women is a true disgrace...we are supposed to teach our children by example..this women truely failed on this account.. her husband will have to live with her mistakes for the rest of his life...we should not have pity on her at all... that is what is wrong with out society today..everyone is so quick to find excuses and sugar coat everything... instead of having accountability

[tazsdg1]

It's kind of odd that her husband says she doesn't drink nor smoke weed, that he knows of. This is a case of someone living a double life, or there were problems within the marriage. I cannot see someones blood alcohol level twice the legal limit and with weed in her system unless something mentally was wrong with her state of mind, before this accident. This is not a fluke accident, this is something that was premeditated.

[Jazznme]

Oh, but she wasn't drunk. She never, ever, was seen drunk. When have we ever seen a criminal confess to their crime. Even when there was a smoking gun. The husband and lawyer are shameful. Liar, Liar, hope there pants're on fire.
This is sickening. I'm so sorry for the 3 families of the other vehicle. And why was the hero-dad staying behind to go fishing, while the non-drinker, non-pothead took off with a car load of kids and a fifth (?) of vodka. Someone must have poured it down her throat during that time delay.
Rapists and drunk drivers! I have no tolerance; no excuses, no sympathy. And YES, I'm mad as hell, that these acts continue to grow in our society.

[mwhc1]

I'll say this... i bet things are not as they seem or what we've been told. The complete toxicology report is not even complete yet.

booze can cause this kinda thing. Pot can't. They are not one in the same. i would rather have 50 people driving on weed than 5 driving on booze.

[mecury69]

Is there, in fact, a test that can actually tell WHEN a person last smoked weed? Is there a way to gauge it the same way as blood alcohol levels?

Just because there are traces does not mean anything. She could have smoked the night before.

I wonder if the reporter ever questioned that?

[twopoints]

i was just curious if any of the anti-pot people on here have ever tried it??

[jwesel1]

Smoking marijuana makes people think they are in a country like UK where people drive on the left side of the roads

[mecury69]

Of course not. If they did, they would realize that it's not such a big deal.

And then they will jump into heroin and coke by the weeks end.

LOL Isn't that also what we were taught?

[mecury69]

Of course not. If they did, they would realize that it's not such a big deal.

And then they will jump into heroin and coke by the weeks end.

LOL Isn't that also what we were taught?

[hionareef]

Any sensible drinker knows: buds before beer, have no fear.

Smoking pot after a dozen or so cocktail will cause anyone to wreck, whether they're in a car or not.