| 2009 Taconic State Parkway crash | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Details | |
| Date | July 26, 2009 1:35 pm EDT |
| Location | Taconic State Parkway, Mount Pleasant, near Briarcliff Manor, New York, U.S. |
| Statistics | |
| Vehicles | 2003 Ford Windstar minivan 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SUV 2002 Chevrolet Tracker SUV |
| Deaths | 8 |
| Injured | 3 |
The 2009 Taconic State Parkway crash was a traffic collision that occurred shortly after 1:30 p.m. on July 26, 2009, on the Taconic State Parkway in the town of Mount Pleasant, near the village of Briarcliff Manor, New York, United States.[1] A minivan, being driven by 36-year-old Diane Schuler, traveled 1.7 miles (2.7 km) in the wrong direction on the parkway and collided head-on with an oncoming SUV. Eight people were killed: Schuler, her daughter and three nieces, and the three occupants in the SUV.[2] The crash was the worst fatal motor vehicle crash to occur in Westchester County since July 22, 1934,[3] when a bus crash in Ossining claimed twenty lives.[4][5]
The ensuing investigation into the crash's cause received nationwide media attention. Toxicology tests conducted by the medical examiner revealed that Schuler was heavily intoxicated with both alcohol and marijuana at the time of the crash. Her husband, Daniel Schuler, consistently denied that she used drugs or alcohol "excessively" and made multiple national media appearances to defend his late wife and call for further investigation into other possible medical causes for her erratic driving. An independent investigator hired by the Schuler family obtained DNA testing and toxicology re-testing of Schuler's samples, and confirmed the results of the original testing.[6]
- ^ Snedeker, Louise (27 July 2011). "Wrong Way Tragedy: Supporting First Responders". The Rivertowns Daily Voice. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ Lee, Tien-Shun (25 July 2011). "Wrong Way Tragedy: Shock, Mystery Still Linger". The Briarcliff Daily Voice. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ Michelin, Robert (26 July 2011). "Wrong Way Tragedy: First Responders Look Back". The Briarcliff Daily Voice. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ Ali, A., "4 Kids, 4 Adults Die on Taconic," The Journal News (Lower Hudson), July 26, 2009.
- ^ "Bus Owners Ask Change in Venue" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- ^ "Interview with Tom Ruskin". cnn.com. Retrieved 4 June 2021.