Victims' dad urges mourners: 'Love your children' (LI family buried today)

Newsday ^ | July 30, 2009 | BART JONES AND JOHN VALENTI

[NYer]

For the longest time Thursday, Warren Hance seemed to fight his emotions.

Nearing the end of his eulogy inside Our Lady of Victory Church in Floral Park, Hance, who had lost his three daughters, his sister, and her daughter in a tragic wrong-way crash, began to break down.

His voice wavering, the Floral Park man said: "Love your children, cherish your children, kiss your children."

As mourners in the overflow congregation could be heard sobbing, and, at times, wailing, Hance said: "Don't ever forget . . . "

Then, he broke down, too, unable to continue.

The scene illustrated the magnitude of the tragedy that took place Sunday when a Ford Windstar minivan, being driven by Hance's sister, Diane Schuler, 36, of West Babylon, traveled the wrong way Sunday on the Taconic State Parkway and struck an SUV head-on.

Eight people, including a father, son, and their friend, all of Yonkers, were killed in the crash. So were Schuler, her daughter, Erin, 2, and the three daughters of Warren and Jackie Hance - Emma, 8, Alyson, 7, and Kate, 5. The only survivor in the two vehicles was Bryan Schuler, 5, the son of Diane and Daniel Schuler.

"It's so sad," Floral Park resident Cesar Castro, 37, said in Spanish before the funeral, as he stood in a park directly across from the church.

[NYer]

Diane Schuler, 36, second from left, and her daughter Erin, 2, (held by her father Daniel Schuler), died in a crash on the Taconic Parkway Sunday. The Schuler's son, Bryan, 5, was the only survivor of the fatal crash.

Alyson, 7, Kate, 5 and Emma, 8, with their parents Warren and Jackie Hance. The Hance children were all killed in a crash on the Taconic State Parkway.

Pallbearers carry one of the five coffins of the Hance and Schuler family members who died in a crash on the Taconic Parkway before the funeral at Our Lady of Victory Church in Floral Park.

[NYer]

Please remember these families in your prayers!

Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[sauropod]

Heartbreaking story.

God be with the Schuler and Hance families.

[B-Chan]

I’d rather be dead than bury my own child. I honestly don’t understand how anyone can endure grief at that level without committing suicide.

May God bless this poor man and all those who are going through such a hell on earth.

[workerbee]

Such an unimaginable tragedy. God help these people cope.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

I pray that certain people will leave this thread alone. So sad and prayers for the families involved.

[njslim]

News report this afternoon in NY said police recovered
Shuler’s cell phone sitting on highway divider near
Tappan Zee Bridge. Said had called her brother complaining
of being dizzy and having probelms seeing.

Question is cause

Drugs/Alcohol?

Illness aka brain tumor or some other neurologic cause

[RoadTest]

I have read accounts of visits to Hell that I believe. In none of them were any children, dogs or cats seen there.

[catbertz]

I’ve said something similar to my wife regarding another sad story. I can’t imagine how to carry on after such a loss. I’m going to pray for this family.

[Oratam]

The Taconic is a strange highway. Along its northern stretches there are small country roads and lanes that cross the scenic parkway (which resembles in many ways an interstate highway with a grass median) at grade!

Cars "shoot out" across two traffic lanes, catch a breath on the median, then shoot out across another two traffic lanes. The first time I witnessed this I slammed on the brakes thinking a car traveling ahead of me had lost control.

This arrangement probably made sense (and saved tons of bucks) when the area was rural and sparsely populated. Less so now.

[VermiciousKnid]

This poor family is from the town in which my husband is a police officer, and it was his unfortunate duty to be the one to speak with the frantic mother of the three little nieces on the day of the accident.

Please pray for them in their unimaginable grief, and though his grief pales to insignificance in comparison, if you can find it in you to do so, please pray for my husband, too. He has had terrible feelings of guilt and sorrow over this.

Regards,

[Alberta's Child]

I know that part of the Taconic Parkway well. I'm a civil engineer who works in highway design and traffic operations, and that's one of the worst stretches of road I've ever seen. In addition to the peculiar features you mentioned, you also have no shoulder there and a mountable curb that can be very unforgiving.

When I first heard the news report about this tragic accident I assumed it was in that area, since I figured it's easy to see how a driver can come down to a stop sign off one of the side roads and turn the wrong way on the Parkway. But this was further south where it's more of a "normal" limited-access highway. For the life of me, I can't understand how someone could end up going the wrong way on the highway there -- and in broad daylight, too. I'd be curious to know if there was a serious medical issue here that resulted in disorientation, etc.

[netmilsmom]

May these families have peace.
And thank YOU Lord that ours is not one of them.

Amen

[always vigilant]

10 or so years ago I was on the Taconic and a motorcycle came at me in from the wrong direction. I was in the right lane he was in the left lane coming at me. He was flying as he passed me. I called 911 to let them know but didn't hear of any accident the next day. If one is not familiar and distracted for whatever reason, I can see how this can happen.

Very sad.

[Sir Gawain]

Head on collisions confuse me. How do you not see a vehicle coming at you head on or not notice you’re going the wrong way?

[xsmommy]

oh i will pray for your husband as well as this family. the entire situation is heartbreaking and having to inform the family of such a tragedy has to take a horrific toll on the person doing the informing.

[m4629]

Such a tragedy.

Lord have mercy.

Prayers for the families and all involved.

[netmilsmom]

>>Drugs/Alcohol?<<

I don’t think that a mom under the influence of a chemical would make an emergency phone call to her brother. And it seems that whatever was wrong with her, screwed up her judgement, as she continued to drive.

[Alberta's Child]

The driver may have had some kind of medical episode. It’s easy to see how the driver of the other vehicle wouldn’t have seen this . . . it’s the middle of the afternoon on a clear day and you just don’t expect to have someone coming at you on your side of a limited-access highway. If someone else was driving in front of the unfortunate motorist and swerved out of the way at the last moment, it would have been too late to do anything anyway.

[Shooter 2.5]

Where are the names of the poor people who’s car was hit by this woman who had the vision problems?

Did I miss the condolences for the people who were not traveling the wrong way on a highway?

[Sir Gawain]

That big bridge in San Diego has a ramp shaped curb on the side that cars have jumped and flipped over the bridge. Makes no sense to have a curb like that in a place like that.

[Alberta's Child]

Here's a brief piece from yesterday's news report on this incident that might give some insight:

Meanwhile, one of the survivors from the third car told The Post yesterday that by the time he noticed Schuler's car barreling toward him and his wife, it was too late.

"I don't remember too much. The air bag went off. I saw the car coming at us. My wife was driving. It was instant," said Dean Tallarico of upstate Freehold, who suffered airbag burns to his face. "I don't know how everything happened. It happened so fast."

Those folks in the third car are lucky to be alive.

The same news story indicated that an autopsy on the driver of the car traveling the wrong way revealed no obvious signs of medical distress that might have contributed to the accident (primarily a stroke or aneurysm). Toxicology reports won't be available for several weeks.

This gets more strange by the day.

[NYer]

Autopsy reports show she was in good health. It’s a mystery.

[Alberta's Child]

From the same article I quoted above:

In a statement, her family described Schuler, of West Babylon, as an "accomplished working mother" -- a Cablevision employee -- who "always put her children before any other priorities."

It described her daughter, Erin, as "the light of their family," who was "a bright and exuberant girl who loved to blow bubbles and gave her family great joy."

Of the three nieces, the statement said the oldest, Emma, 8, was "polite, helpful, caring and warm."

She "took her role as older sister very seriously."

Alyson, 7, "had a smile that would light up any room," and Katie, 5, "was very mature for her age -- inquisitive and self-assured."

Schuler's 5-year-old son, Bryan, survived the crash, which left the family's minivan engulfed in flames.

"Our great blessing amid our sorrow is that Bryan survived the accident and is in stable condition," the statement read. "His doctors are optimistic that he will make a full recovery."

The family also extended their condolences to the families of the three men killed -- Mike and Guy Bastardi and Daniel Longo -- saying they regretted "the grief this tragic accident has caused."

[Moonman62]

News report this afternoon in NY said police recovered Shuler’s cell phone sitting on highway divider near Tappan Zee Bridge. Said had called her brother complaining of being dizzy and having probelms seeing.

I would stop somewhere if I was having such problems.

[NYer]

Please pray for them in their unimaginable grief, and though his grief pales to insignificance in comparison, if you can find it in you to do so, please pray for my husband, too. He has had terrible feelings of guilt and sorrow over this.

I will include your husband in my prayers. He has no reason to feel guilt. It is a painful duty for an officer to break such horrific news to parents. It is a tragedy that defies comprehension.

[netmilsmom]

Well, I said, “These families.”

I guess I should have made it clearer that it was inclusive of all victims.

[reagan_fanatic]

I have a three year-old little girl whom I just love to pieces. If I were to lose her, I really don’t think I could carry on.

My prayers go out to the victims of this tragedy.

[xsmommy]

for heaven’s sake, do you begrudge prayers and sympathy for ANYONE involved in this tragedy? i wasn’t aware it was necessary to apportion condolences.

[Alberta's Child]

Prayers offered for all involved — including your husband. The role that someone in his position is forced to play in these tragedies is so easily overlooked.

[Shooter 2.5]

Mike and Guy Bastardi and Daniel Longo —

Thank you so much for the names of the three victims which should have been in the posted article.

Perhaps the Freepers can also remember them in their prayers.

[Shooter 2.5]

The first article didn’t even bother to write the names of the other vehicle.

Mike and Guy Bastardi and Daniel Longo —

You would think prayers and sympathy would be for ALL victims of this tragedy.

[xsmommy]

i think the inclusion of EVERYONE concerned in the tragedy was implied in every post on this thread, up to and including the poster’s husband who was involved in having to inform one of the families.

[Archer24]

Most of the Taconic esp. below the Putnam line was built before freeways were even thought of. They are slowly removing the upstate crossings that have had bad accidents. It was supposed to be a scenic route as was the Palisades Interstate Parkway which was also built about the same time and looks very much like the Taconic.

The accident happened in Westchester cty and furthermore there a
was another 20 miles away on the same day on the Taconic with similar results though not as many.

I think you’ll find that the Palsades has similar accidents as they have similar entrances.

Clearly these roads are behind the times.

[Shooter 2.5]

The article didn’t even bother to include the names of Mike and Guy Bastardi and Daniel Longo who were in the other car.

My complaint is not with you or the other Freepers. It’s with the dimwit who wrote the article.

[LucyJo]

This is so horrific that it difficult to even think about it.

My heartfelt prayers for everyone involved, and their loved ones. God be with them and bless the needs of each one.

VK, I can only imagine the effect such tragedy would have on those responding. God bless your husband to put everything into proper perspective and to not add to his grief with feelings of guilt. Humans are pretty much helpless to do anything but petition our Creator for strength and comfort when tragedies such as this happen.

[VermiciousKnid]

Thank you all very much. I will tell him you are thinking of him, though he’ll claim (rightly) that the victims’ families need them more.

Still...as his wife, I personally thank all of you. This one will be with him for quite some time.

Regards,

[EDINVA]

You husband, by having to tell the mother that her three little girls were killed, experienced a life-altering event. It is important we pray for him and for you. I hope that the PD sees that he gets proper counseling.

One of my brothers was NYPD and said that telling family members that a loved one was killed was the absolute worst part of the job. He never had to tell a mother that all of her children were killed. I can’t imagine.

[LucyJo]

That there must have been something that prevented her from realizing that she was going the wrong way, and immediately pulling onto a shoulder or median, was my first thought as well.

Just to check for traffic and make a U turn wouldn’t seem to be much of a problem unless there was some issue that would cause someone not to be able to make a rational response to their circumstances.

[VermiciousKnid]

Thank you, ED...hubby has already spoken to our priest, will do so again on Sunday, and Father is always available to talk when needed, even in the middle of the night.

Truth to tell, neither of us are big believers in psychotherapy as it is practiced today. We prefer to rely on our faith in such matters. It hasn’t failed us yet.

Again, thank you for your prayers on his behalf. I am confident that they will see him through.

Best regards,

[EDINVA]

That’s why I used the word ‘counseling’ ... so long as your husband is a man of faith, a priest is his best source.

Just reading this story ruined my day, cannot imagine, even begin to imagine, how it affected those close to this .. from the family, to home town police like your husband, to the parish priests, the police at the scene. And that’s only half the story ... there’s another up in Yonkers. God help them all.

[NYer]

Thought you would want to be have the details of the funeral.

[Gerish]

Prayers offered for the families. The sorrow from such a tragedy as this must be unbearable.

[The Mayor]

How very sad this all is.

[bboop]

Could have had, as well, difficulty thinking clearly.

[Alberta's Child]

Thank you so much for the names of the three victims which should have been in the posted article.

I disagree with you on this one. The posted article is about the funeral for the three kids and the ordeal their family is facing, and the names of three other victims are not a critical element of THIS story.

The names and photos of the three victims in the second vehicle have been posted prominently in every news story I've seen this week about the accident. They haven't received the same exposure as this group of victims, but that's probably because the tragic aspect of the story is heightened by the deaths of these young children.

[Alberta's Child]

The way the road is laid out, it’s not that hard to see how someone could keep driving once they got there. It’s a divided highway with two lanes per direction with a wide grass median between the two directions — with lots of trees in the median that obscure the opposing lanes for long stretches. There are no shoulders on the road, either. If someone who was disoriented mistakenly got onto the road in the wrong direction and was driving southbound in the left-hand lane of the northbound roadway, it could very well seem that they were driving in the correct direction on a two-lane, two-way road.

[Shooter 2.5]

This is the first I had heard of this happening and I still don’t understand why they had the name of a person standing in a park across the street but they couldn’t add the names of ALL the victims of this incident.

It’s simply poor journalism.

I hope the writer isn’t involved with the funeral of Mike and Guy Bastardi and Daniel Longo.

[skully]

Prayers for this family. Way too much grief at one time to bear. I pray they find God's solace.

[Alberta's Child]

This is the first I had heard of this happening and I still don’t understand why they had the name of a person standing in a park across the street but they couldn’t add the names of ALL the victims of this incident.

This story has been all over the television/radio news and all over the newspapers here in the New York City area for days -- since the incident occurred last Sunday afternoon, in fact.

You heard about it for the first time four days later because someone posted it here on FreeRepublic.

They mention the person in the park across the street because the article is written by an on-site reporter who is covering the funeral of three of the eight victims. This reporter isn't covering the accident itself . . . he/she is covering this funeral only.

If you check out the New York Daily News or New York Post websites you can get tons of information about the incident and the follow-up investigation.