Woman charged in connection with fatal crash that killed mother, daughter now free on bail

A 32-year-old woman facing 16 charges related to a fatal head-on collision south of Saskatoon on Oct. 19 is free on bail.

Brittany Dawn Barry is charged with multiple counts of driving while impaired causing death, driving impaired causing bodily harm,dangerous driving causing death,dangerous driving causing bodily harm, criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

Police say that Barry was drunk when she drove her truck, with two of her children, on the wrong side of Highway11 north of Dundurnaround 9:45 p.m. CST.

The truck collided head-on with a small SUV carrying Laura Hannah, 53, and her 20-year-old daughter, Jamie, killing both. The Hannahs were travelling from the Edmonton-area to a family function in Moose Jaw.

Barry and her two children survived with what police described as non-life-threatening injuries.

On Thursday, Barry came to Saskatoon provincial court for a bail hearing. She had been in custody since the crash.

She entered the prisoner's box on crutches, wearing a grey sweatshirt. She stared at the floor for the 45-minute hearing before Judge Lisa Watson. Prosecutor Steven Larocque argued for keeping her in custody, while defence lawyer Brian Pfefferlespoke for her release.

"In a situation where someone is presumed innocent they should be released, and that's one of the fundamental principles in Canada, that individuals are released from custody pending trial," Pfefferle said outside court.

The details of the hearing are not reportable because of a publication ban requested by the defence.

• Woman charged after 2 people killed in highway crash near Dundurn, Sask.

Members of both families were in court for the hearing, weeping quietly as they heard the details of the crash and its aftermath.

Barry's release came with conditions that include posting $5,000 cash, abiding by a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, not consuming liquor or cannabis, not driving and providing police with a breath sample on demand.

She is scheduled to return to court Nov. 6.