Wrong-Way Driver's Brother Says Family Had No Idea About Alcohol, Drug Problem

The family of the woman, who police said was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when she drove her minivan the wrong way on the Taconic Parkway which sparked a deadly accident, spoke out for the first time Wednesday, addressing the shocking toxicology report.

Diane Schuler's brother Daniel, who spoke to reporters during a news conference outside a family home in Floral Park, said he was not aware his sister was under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

"Because we have never known Diane to be anything but a responsible and caring mother and aunt, this toxicology report raises more questions than it provides answers for our family," Warren Hance and his wife, Jackie, said in a statement. "Amidst all the uncertainty and speculation as to how and why this accident occurred, this is the absolute last thing that we ever would have expected.

The Hances, whose three young daughters - Emma, 9, Alison, 7, and Kate, 5 - were killed in the crash said they will cooperate with authorities.

"We would never knowingly allow our daughters to travel with somebody who might jeopardize their safety," a relative said.

According to authorities, Schuler was high on drugs and alcohol when she drove her SUV the wrong way on the Taconic Parkway last Sunday. Blood work conducted on Schuler showed she had a blood-alcohol content of .019 during the time of the crash - more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

Meantime, the families of the three Yonkers men who perished in the crash say they plan to sue Schuler's family, claiming they must have known the 36-year-old mother had extreme problems with drugs and alcohol, their lawyer said Wednesday.

"Any person who was aware that she was drinking is an accomplice," said Nanuet-based lawyer Irving Anolik. "It's hard for me to believe that the family did not know that this woman had an alcohol problem or a drug problem."

Anolik is representing Margaret Nicotina, Michael Bastardi and Roseann M. Guzzo, relatives of 81-year-old Michael Bastardi and his 49-year-old son, Guy Bastardi, who were among the eight people killed in the tragic crash on July 26.

Attorneys for the Bastardi family and the family of 79-year-old Daniel Longo, who was also killed, met Wednesday with Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore, who reportedly told the lawyers she hasn't yet ruled out impaneling a grand jury to levy possible criminal charges against anyone who may have committed a crime in the case.

Daniel Schuler has sought representation from celebrity lawyer Dominic A. Barbara. Her scheduled to hold a press conference on behalf of Schuler Wednesday afternoon.

State Police have said no criminal charges are planned.