NBC - LAW & ORDER ATTACKED FOR COPYING REAL LIFE TRAGEDY

LAW & ORDER ATTACKED FOR COPYING REAL LIFE TRAGEDY

LAW & ORDER executives have been blasted by the family of two car crash victims for fictionalising the tragedy for the TV crime drama.
Diane Schuler and her daughter Erin died in July (09) after she allegedly got behind the wheel of her car with her young relatives while drunk and high on marijuana.
Her vehicle crashed head-on with the car of Michael Bastardi and his son Guy, as well as family friend Daniel Longo - killing all three men.
Schuler's three nieces, who were travelling with her, also died in the accident.
The cast and crew of Law & Order, which stars Sam Waterson, were spotted filming in Harlem, New York last Thursday (15Oct09) reconstructing the crash scene for the TV show.
But the decision to adapt the tragedy for the small screen has been attacked by the Bastardis' grieving relatives because police have yet to determine exactly what happened on that fateful night.
Michael Bastardi Jr. tells the New York Post, "(The show is) grabbing a tragedy and they're going to get people to watch it.
"(But) it should not draw any conclusions - because they don't know what happened yet. We're still waiting for the police reports."
However, Bastardi Jr. hopes the episode will at least warn others against driving while under the influence.
He adds, "I hope (Law & Order) display the horror of it, how evil it is - for a drunken mum high on marijuana to get in a van with five kids."
A spokesperson for network NBC has refused to comment on the upcoming storyline.