Did anyone watch the HBO documentary 'There's something wrong with Aunt Diane'?

[NikitaZee]

WOW, that video … holy crap!

I have a question on the miss called numbers on Diane's phone … do you think the oldest niece might have been using Diane's cell to call her parents and was misdialing … what phone did the oldest niece use to call her parents and leave that message "something's wrong with Aunt Diane" … ? And possibly if Diane's cell was in the niece's hands, it was the niece that left it on the stone wall when they got back in the van to continue home … ?

Was there some rumor swirling around that Diane was having an affair and that her BF broke off their affair (that day) and she was devastated???

Danny Schuler suing his BIL who lost 3 beautiful children … omg.

I'm wondering that too. The calls were made from Diane Schuler's phone. I read the other day that, as part of the investigation, they got ahold of the folks who were misdialed. One guy was shaken up to learn that he was one of the calls before the wreck.
I'd imagine that it was Diane Schuler who stepped out of the car to make the call, then left it on the wall (either intentionally or accidentally in her drunk state). It is such a haunting story to me - all of it, and really there will never be an answer as to WTH was she thinking!

 

[mefordis]

Here is what I think: I think she got out of the car, dialed the numbers, smoked a joint and left the cellphone accidentally on the wall. If you are lighting a joiint you have to put the cellphone down because you need both hands to light it. I don't think she purposely left it there and I don't think she committed suicide now.

I'm wondering that too. The calls were made from Diane Schuler's phone. I read the other day that, as part of the investigation, they got ahold of the folks who were misdialed. One guy was shaken up to learn that he was one of the calls before the wreck.
I'd imagine that it was Diane Schuler who stepped out of the car to make the call, then left it on the wall (either intentionally or accidentally in her drunk state). It is such a haunting story to me - all of it, and really there will never be an answer as to WTH was she thinking!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I doubt she stopped to smoke so close to the toll station. That is where they found her phone. Someone said she went through the toll just fine, in the far left row. She then crossed all lanes to stop in an area to the right of the tolls.

Her SIL was trying to reach her at that time. I don't remember hearing the daughter called. I think the SIL heard the daughter say there was something wrong. At that point Diane doesn't want to be bothered again and she leaves it on the side of the road.

 

[mefordis]

Here's another youtube video from the same guy, and he presents a very compelling interpretation of the events. I think he is spot on, actually, with his version of what could have happened. I go with his theory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqAmbWpjV0Y

 

[msjprincess]

I doubt she stopped to smoke so close to the toll station. That is where they found her phone. Someone said she went through the toll just fine, in the far left row. She then crossed all lanes to stop in an area to the right of the tolls.

Her SIL was trying to reach her at that time. I don't remember hearing the daughter called. I think the SIL heard the daughter say there was something wrong. At that point Diane doesn't want to be bothered again and she leaves it on the side of the road.

The daughter is the one who called and said "There is something wrong with Aunt Diane" and read the signs to her father. The call was disconnected and they tried calling back and didn't get an answer.

 

[Robinrs]

I doubt she stopped to smoke so close to the toll station. That is where they found her phone. Someone said she went through the toll just fine, in the far left row. She then crossed all lanes to stop in an area to the right of the tolls.

Her SIL was trying to reach her at that time. I don't remember hearing the daughter called. I think the SIL heard the daughter say there was something wrong. At that point Diane doesn't want to be bothered again and she leaves it on the side of the road.

Here is a news report with a timeline of the calls:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnK8m_N0egU&feature=related

 

[sbtrfly74]

Think someone mentioned it was on HBOGo

duh... I forgot you have to have HBO to get HBOgo lol. Have you tried hulu, its still new but can look out for it to come up there.

 

[Imagineer7]

I feel like something bigger happened here than just someone who drank and smoked some pot. People do that on a daily basis and don't go on a suicidal rampage, leaving cell phones on toll walls, and killing small kids.

Events just don't make sense, especially leaving the cell phone on the wall. Why do that if she was just drunk and high?

 

[momrek06]

I feel like something bigger happened here than just someone who drank and smoked some pot. People do that on a daily basis and don't go on a suicidal rampage, leaving cell phones on toll walls, and killing small kids.

Events just don't make sense, especially leaving the cell phone on the wall. Why do that if she was just drunk and high?

It is a complete mystery to all.

The drinking (equal to TEN drinks) and the pot smoking all within a few (morning) hours … while driving in her brother's van with all those children … mystery. The left cell phone, I can see easily if she was that drunk/high.

What is upsetting is the husband trying to make her the 'victim' in all this …

 

[mefordis]

I feel like something bigger happened here than just someone who drank and smoked some pot. People do that on a daily basis and don't go on a suicidal rampage, leaving cell phones on toll walls, and killing small kids.

Events just don't make sense, especially leaving the cell phone on the wall. Why do that if she was just drunk and high?

I think she put the cellphone down to do something. Light a cigarette, whatever. Then she walked without it. If you saw the reenactment, you will see it isn't that implausible to think someone could be drunk enough to go down that one way (it is marked but if you are drunk you could miss the One Way sign for sure).

Then, the Taconic Pkwy North is sometimes dead enough that you can go a while without seeing another car. It's also curvy so you would not see cars until you are right up on them. Possible that she went a mile before she encountered her first car.

After spending a long time looking at footage and reading witness accounts, I am satisfied that she did this drunk/high with no intention of causing death to herself or others. She was just messed up and probably knew it but wasn't going to ask for help because she would of course end up in jail.

 

[mefordis]

I think he is scared of eventually getting sued, maybe, so he is on the offensive?

It is a complete mystery to all.

The drinking (equal to TEN drinks) and the pot smoking all within a few (morning) hours … while driving in her brother's van with all those children … mystery. The left cell phone, I can see easily if she was that drunk/high.

What is upsetting is the husband trying to make her the 'victim' in all this …

 

[Imagineer7]

I think he is scared of eventually getting sued, maybe, so he is on the offensive?

Why would he get sued?

 

[mefordis]

Why would he get sued?

Well, the Hance family IS suing Diane's estate. Not the husband personally but since were married her assets are his as well.

http://www.lohud.com/article/201107...-Diane-Schuler-s-estate-over-daughters-deaths

 

[sbtrfly74]

I feel like something bigger happened here than just someone who drank and smoked some pot. People do that on a daily basis and don't go on a suicidal rampage, leaving cell phones on toll walls, and killing small kids.

Events just don't make sense, especially leaving the cell phone on the wall. Why do that if she was just drunk and high?

She had a blood alcohol lvl of .19% which is the same thing as 200mg/dl and still had .6% (60mg/dl) in her gastric contents that hadn't been absorbed yet. I think she was beyond drunk but a chronic closet alcoholic that maybe her tolerance was higher than some. Instead of most ppl that get buzzed and then drunk over several hours of drinking, I think she could have downed a lot over a shorter period of time and it hit her fast. I know I can drink say 5-10 drinks over 5-6 hours and barely feel a thing, but drink 4-5 drinks in 1 hour and it would hit pretty fast.

200 mg/dL: Very slurred speech, staggering gait, double vision, lethargic but able to be aroused by voice, difficulty sitting upright in a chair, memory loss

300 mg/dL: Stuporous, able to be aroused only briefly by strong physical stimulus (such as a face slap or deep pinch), deep snoring

I agree though, none of it makes sense and it seems like there was much more going on than whats being told.

 

[SLK1]

So I'm thinking she stopped at the toll area (where she left her phone), and as the guy on the video said, she realized she was in trouble - BIG trouble - for having drank and smoked so much, so although she knew she was impaired, her fear of getting in trouble and going to jail made her keep on truckin' and she got on the wrong side of the highway? I can buy that, but was she messed up enough to NOT know she was going the wrong way? Wouldn't she have been scared and pulled off immediately?

I guess no one will ever know...

 

[mefordis]

I can see how it could happen if you were that drunk. It is said that she thought she was on the Cross Bronx Expy(?) not Taconic. Also, the Taconic is windy and it is possible she didn't see cars coming at her for a while after she was on it. Then they could have come boom, boom, boom and then one hit her head on.

Did you see my previous post with the youtube video of the simulation of her getting on the Taconic the wrong way? Here is the video of the recreation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQAZ_cLylJA&feature=related

I'm wondering what the scene in the car was like, with the niece calling right from the backseat to say something is wrong with her aunt. Wondering did Diane not hear that? It was said she was saying incoherent things like guessing as to where she might be (Cross Bronx Expwy?)

So I'm thinking she stopped at the toll area (where she left her phone), and as the guy on the video said, she realized she was in trouble - BIG trouble - for having drank and smoked so much, so although she knew she was impaired, her fear of getting in trouble and going to jail made her keep on truckin' and she got on the wrong side of the highway? I can buy that, but was she messed up enough to NOT know she was going the wrong way? Wouldn't she have been scared and pulled off immediately?

I guess no one will ever know...

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Interesting youtube podcast, thanks.

Ok, so maybe she was a closet alcoholic. She wouldn't have much time to drink during their stay at the lake. She must have been dying for a drink, so she encouraged Danny to just head home. She mixed her vodka with some OJ from Mc Donalds and started to drink as the kids were playing.

She probably drank way too fast, worried that she wouldn't have time enough for a good buzz before she made it home. (it was supposed to only take her 45 minutes)

She starts to feel sick, so she stops at the gas station. The gas station clerk said she asked for pain killers, but maybe she wanted something to help her stomach. If the gas station didn't have aspirin then it probably didn't have Tums either. (weird, anyway...)

The youtube guy says he thinks she stopped at a bar or liquor store. I don't think so. Danny already admitted that the giant vodka bottle was theirs.

She was honking and passing to get to the rest stop. I think she was about to throw up at this point. She thought a quick joint would help her sour stomach. She could have sent the girls to the bathroom or out of the car to run around.

She left the phone on purpose. She didn't want her BIL or SIL to catch on that she was impaired.

 

[mefordis]

The husband might have thought that was the same vodka bottle going back and forth, but maybe in reality she drank and replaced it over again? I think that is more like it. She was gone for 4 hours (left camp at 9:30 am - crashed at 1:30 pm) so the big question is how that time was filled. That is why the youtube guy said maybe she stopped at a liquor store. In the HBO documentary it didn't seem like the husband was 100% sure how the vodka bottle got in her car.

I don't think she was coherent enough to deliberately leave the cellphone. I think it was just left in her drunken stupor. I mean, she could have opted to have any calls go to voicemail. She was willingly talking to people and calling them, so at no time did she seem adverse to speaking to people over the phone. She probably smoked cigs as well (closet smoker). Maybe she smoked a cigarette out there by the bridge but I really think she smoked her marijuana cig out there. Can't see her caring about getting caught doing that - traffic going by if someone stops you just toss it like a cigarette. The reason I think this is because the experts say the thc was high enough that she smoked the pot anywhere from 15 mins to an hour before the crash.

Thanks for sharing your theories with us. I hate not knowing what really happened. I wish one small puzzle piece could show itself that could fill in some of the blanks.

Interesting youtube podcast, thanks.

Ok, so maybe she was a closet alcoholic. She wouldn't have much time to drink during their stay at the lake. She must have been dying for a drink, so she encouraged Danny to just head home. She mixed her vodka with some OJ from Mc Donalds and started to drink as the kids were playing.

She probably drank way too fast, worried that she wouldn't have time enough for a good buzz before she made it home. (it was supposed to only take her 45 minutes)

She starts to feel sick, so she stops at the gas station. The gas station clerk said she asked for pain killers, but maybe she wanted something to help her stomach. If the gas station didn't have aspirin then it probably didn't have Tums either. (weird, anyway...)

The youtube guy says he thinks she stopped at a bar or liquor store. I don't think so. Danny already admitted that the giant vodka bottle was theirs.

She was honking and passing to get to the rest stop. I think she was about to throw up at this point. She thought a quick joint would help her sour stomach. She could have sent the girls to the bathroom or out of the car to run around.

She left the phone on purpose. She didn't want her BIL or SIL to catch on that she was impaired.

 

[a1tinkfans]

what a Horrible tragedy. I did not see the recent show.
All indications were that she was drunk and she was high, based on the toxicology reports released.

The "spin" by the husband and expressed by/thru his attorney ( who allegedly/ reportedly acknowledged his great spin job of his Larry King interview) was to deflect .
There was mention after the story first broke that they were looking into the campground, any other people with her, as to who provided the alcohol to her...another way to spread the liability around...

So now the husband is suing the car company, the BIL (who lost his three children) and NYS to bring more people into the mix with the ultimate goal of mitigating HIS potential damages (against his assets which were his wifes that passed to him). Its all legal mumbo jumbo to bring in any and everybody that can be held in for just 1% because if they can get that 1% they can then collect ALL the damages (joint and several liability, welcome to NYS)....so ultimately this will likely be in the court system for years as insurance carriers either deny or defend or PAY because it will cost too much TO defend.
To help the (husbands) "son" to collect for damages, he sues others to then be countered so he can collect for his pain and suffering brought on by the driver/his mom.
The driver/mom would have been denied coverage for all the bills/medical etc of her death due to the toxicology report citing dwi....but regardless of all the legal wrangling,
the FACT is
that many Purely innocent people were Tragically, Painfully/Suffered and were Killed at the hands of a DRUNK and HIGH driver.

IMHO, She was very likely an alcoholic as well as a drug addicted person that for whatever reason, Overdid it that morning and purposely took a chance/CHOSE to drive home and risk killing herself and all the others Rather than face her demons and ask for the help she needed. Pure Tragedy and So Avoidable

May all those that perished, Rest In Peace
and
may the families torn apart and shattered ......somehow move forward to recall the Happy Memories of their loved ones lives rather than re-live the Senseless tragedy of their passing!

 

[momrek06]

There was mention after the story first broke that they were looking into the campground, any other people with her, as to who provided the alcohol to her...another way to spread the liability around.

No Danny admitted in the 'doc' that they brought it with them and that sometimes when they are sitting around the camp fire they will have a drink. He said Diane did all the packing that morning and Danny said he loaded everything in the van BUT he was confused at how that bottle got in the car that morning.

Do you all think that Diane has done something like this before....maybe not as much alcohol but she has done this drinking and was then able to drive?

Interesting I thought as the 'doc' showed the 'Absolute' bottle all burned up in the van.