Diane Schuler

Death driver Diane Schuler was drunk and high on marijuana when her wrong-way crash killed eight people on the Taconic State Parkway, sources told the Daily News on Tuesday.

Schuler’s blood alcohol level was .19 – about two-and-a-half times the legal limit, investigators confirmed Tuesday.

State Police first learned the toxicology results last Friday, but decided not to reveal the information until the victims were buried.

Police have given the findings to Schuler’s family and relatives of the three other victims of the July 26 crash, which killed 36-year-old Schuler, her 4-year-old daughter, and her three nieces, ages 9, 7 and 5. Her 5-year-old son survived.

Also killed were the three Yonkers men inside the SUV Schuler hit – Guy Bastardi, 49, his father Michael Bastardi,
81 and family friend Daniel Longo, 74.
“We’re beside ourselves,” said Robert Guzzo. His wife, Roseann Bastardi, is the sister and daughter of the victims.

“Nothing’s going to bring them back,” he said. I can’t say it helps to know what happened.”

“In the beginning I was as puzzled as everyone else, but now it makes sense,” Guzzo said. “I’m very angry… but it’s a tragedy on both sides. I feel for those kids.”

Westchester’s chief medical examiner, Dr. Millard Hyland, told the Journal News the case has been ruled a homicide and referred to the district attorney.

Investigators revealed Monday that Schuler had been driving erratically for nearly 60 miles before the fiery crash and stopped at a Liberty, N.Y., McDonald’s on the drive home from a camping trip in Sullivan County.

Her husband, Daniel Schuler, told police they left the campground around 9:30 a.m. and his wife was fine.

Around 1 p.m., Schuler called her brother – whose daughters were in the car – and said she was sick and needed help driving.

The brother, Warren Hance, called State Police in Tarrytown to say Schuler needed help. Troopers searched for the red minivan she was driving, but didn’t find her in time.

Around 1:30 p.m., Schuler entered the north-bound Taconic via an exit ramp in Briarcliff Manor, Westchester County.
She drove for 1.7 miles before plowing into the Bastardis’ Chevy SUV.

“I don’t even want to think about if the brother knew what she was doing and let those kids get in the car,” Guzzo said.

The Bastardis and Longo were on their way to Guzzo’s house for dinner. They were going to discuss an upcoming family vacation to Wildwood, N.J., an annual tradition.

“We can’t bear to go this year,” Guzzo said. “I don’t know if we’ll ever go again.”