Well she cheated on her first husband Joey scored on a used wife.
I believe Joe's ex-wife INTENTIONALLY drove into the path of a TRACTOR-TRAILER in an attempt to not only KILL HERSELF but to TAKE HER CHILDREN WITH HER because this was the ONLY way for her to save her children from Joe SEXUALLY ABUSING THEM. SHE along with their 13-month old child died in the accident. The two boys survived.
IMO, She KNEW what would happen to her if she reported Joe's abuse to the authorities so she TOOK THE ONLY ACTION SHE COULD which was to KILL HERSELF AND THE KIDS.