A woman who drove the wrong way down a divided highway and collided with another vehicle, killing the two people inside, has been pre-approved for day parole when she is eligible for it next month.
Brittany Barry, 35, pleaded guilty to drunk driving causing the deaths of Laura Hannah, 53, and Jamie Hannah, 20, and injuring her own two children, who were in the vehicle with her.
The crash happened on Oct. 19, 2024, on Highway 11 near Dundurn, about 35 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon.
Barry is about a year and a half into serving her six-year prison sentence, which was imposed on March 14, 2025.
Federal prisoners are eligible for full parole after serving one-third of their sentence, and can apply for day parole six months before that.
In a decision dated Aug. 11, the Parole Board of Canada approved Barry’s application to be released to a community-based residential facility, commonly known as a halfway house, when she is eligible for day parole.
The parole board noted that family members of the victims “feel that it is too soon for you to be released to the community and that you should be disentitled to any form of absences or conditional release based upon the severity of your crime.”
The board said it also considered Barry’s acceptance of responsibility and the work she has done on personal growth.
“To honour the victims, you said that you intend to live a life of sobriety and never again let yourself get to that point in your life where you return to criminal behaviours,” the parole board wrote.
“You believe that you can honour your children by being there for them as a mother and making better decisions that do not place them at risk.”
Sask. woman sentenced to 6 years for drunk driving crash that killed mother and daughter
The board said that Barry has remained in minimum security while serving her sentence, and there have not been any concerns regarding her behaviour.
The board’s decision also authorized “leave privileges” while Barry is at the halfway house. Her plan includes unescorted temporary absences to visit her family, attend church and attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
The board imposed several conditions on Barry’s day parole, including that she is prohibited from consuming alcohol, must not go into any bars, must not drive, and must continue to take treatment and counselling as directed.
She is also to have “no direct or indirect contact” with the family of the victims, with the exception of her own children.
The decision acknowledged that Barry is already subject to a seven-year driving prohibition as part of her sentence, but said the no-driving condition would help “reinforce this.”
