Husband: Wrong-way Crash Mom Not a Drinker

(CBS/AP)  The husband of a suburban New York mother who caused a car crash that killed her and seven others said Thursday she didn't have a drinking problem and suggested diabetes and other health problems were to blame.

"She was not a drinker. She was not an alcoholic," Daniel Schuler said at a tearful news conference with his sister and lawyer. "Something medically had to have happened."

Schuler's attorney, Dominic Barbara, said the 36-year-old Cablevision executive had diabetes, a suspicious bump on her leg and a mouth abscess that hadn't been treated for weeks before the deadly July 26 wreck.

"I think she had a stroke of some sort," Barbara said. "From the stroke came all the other issues."

Police say Schuler downed more than 10 vodkas and smoked marijuana before driving her minivan nearly two miles on the Taconic State Parkway and slamming head-on into a sport-utility vehicle. Her 2-year-old daughter and three nieces were killed with her, along with three men in the SUV. Schuler's 5-year-old son survived.

Her blood-alcohol level was more than twice the state's legal limit, and she had smoked pot as soon as 15 minutes before the crash, according to toxicology reports from the Westchester County medical examiner's office.

Daniel Schuler said that he never saw his wife drunk since he met her, and that the couple went through a normal routine on the Sunday before he last saw her at a campsite in upstate New York.

"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."

Daniel Schuler went fishing for the day, while Diane Schuler began a 140-mile trip home to Long Island with her kids and three nieces, ages 5 to 8. The fiery wreck happened about four hours after she left, and after motorists called 911 to report her erratic driving on several roads.

Barbara said a frequent baby sitter for the West Babylon couple never saw Schuler drink or smoke pot. Her sister-in-law also defended her.

"Family was the most important thing to her," said Joy Schuler, Daniel's sister. "There was no way she would ever jeopardize the children."

The family has not decided whether to seek another autopsy for Schuler and is awaiting more information from the county's autopsy report, Barbara said.

[wooot1]

ketoacidosis her blood would have alcohol in it in large quantities. The possibility that she had diabetes and was not actually drunk at all actually seems much more plausible than a responsible, 36 year old cablevision executive and suburban mother drinking the equivalent of 10 vodkas on a sunday afternoon, getting in the car with a large number of young children,and then calling her brother-in-law to tell him that she was disoriented. If she were that drunk, why <a href="http://www.google.com">would she do that. If she we</a>

[jellolion]

Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2005 Mar;26(1):96-8.
High urine ethanol and negative blood and vitreous ethanol in a diabetic woman: a case report, retrospective case survey, and review of the literature. (from autopsy)

Did they get the result form her urine?

[gracenote8188]

I do not think anyone has mentioned how dishonest people who have problems with drugs and alcohol can be. They often lie to themselves and others about what they consumed and how much and have no idea they have a problem. And family members can be just as much in denial and unwilling to admit to themselves the extent of the problem. I have some friends who seem to always have a reason to justify daily alcohol and/or pot usage and are totally oblivious to how their usage affects others, think nothing of getting on the road after a bottle of wine, even with children, are blind to the fact that they have a big problem, and one friend cannot figure out why they have memory problems so early in life as they continue to smoke pot. Substance abuse is a massive problem. Also, 10 drinks? Let us also put in perspective that women can be more easily affected by alcohol than men, and the standard guidelines of moderate drinking are lower re: ounces consumed than men. I personally would never ever get in a car after consuming two drinks. Maybe after one, but I would wait a while. And, the fact that she was using and abusing even though she was transporting her children really points out she was probably on the level of flat out alcoholism. Considering the family dynamics it is possible her husband was totally oblivious and/or may have a drinking or drug problem himself. Additionally, alcoholics are experts are covering up their usage. They lie, hide the bottles, make excuses, etc. People without this problem consider the facts of how their behavior would affect others. She did not. And yes, I would think medical problems would contribute to this, but she knew she had medical problems, and blood levels of alcohol are measured by certain standards. Yes, and I would not at all be surprised if his comments are fueled by the fact that there will be lawsuits. I am not expert on how diabetes could, if at all, affect a toxicology report, but it sure looks like something was going on here that reeks of alcohol and drug usage.

[jbright9]

I believe the family and think that diabetes is the culprit here.

[wendypuck14]

If she were a diabetic in ketoacidosis her blood would have alcohol in it in large quantities. The possibility that she had diabetes and was not actually drunk at all actually seems much more plausible than a responsible, 36 year old cablevision executive and suburban mother drinking the equivalent of 10 vodkas on a sunday afternoon, getting in the car with a large number of young children,and then calling her brother-in-law to tell him that she was disoriented. If she were that drunk, why would she do that. If she were sick and disoriented, it makes more sense that she would do that.

[hercule1122]

The sad part is that eight people are dead, and that appears to be because her husband and family are enablers. He is trying to cover his behind with this nonsense that he never saw her drunk. He will be sued for everything he owns or hopes to own by the families of the three men she ran head first into and killed. You simply don't drive the wrong way on a road and talk with someone about feeling ditsy. Cell phones should be outlawed in every state while driving. And lawyers who pretend to be medical experts are just nothing but obvious liars. I am a doctor and know what I am kvetching about.And I am sad about the whold affair!

[susangale]

she was unbelievably ANGRY as she barreled down the highway honking, tailgating, running over grass, passing on the shoulder, and straddling lanes...............WHAT OR WHO SET HER OFF???

combine alcohol, anger and pot.................emotional wreck or worse!

[Robyn521]

Is there any way the tox reports could have been wrong? The bottle of vodka could have been in the car for weeks or months & does not confirm she drank it. Could something else have been in her system?

[blazarus71]

This is a real tragedy and regardless of the reasons as to why and regardless of the outcome; lives have been lost. My heart goes out to all of the families. They have all lost someone they loved, dearly. I cannot begin to imagine what any of them are feeling or going through.

I certainly cannot imagine having something so personal and private publicized by the media. People are so quick to judge and the media is only concerned with which story or rather version will make for good headlines.

I hope that these families are eventually allowed to deal, on their own terms. All of the families involved have enough to deal with, which is the loss of life, regardless of the circumstances.

[Lingo2]

Sorry for the families all around, everyone loses. I feel sure most of the questions presented here will come out in time. Either way this is truly a tragedy.