Woman charged in fatal Dundurn collision granted bail

The 32-year-old woman facing several charges after a fatal collision near Dundurn last weekend was granted bail on Thursday.

Brittany Barry, from the RM of Blucher, is facing over 10 charges that include operating a conveyance while impaired causing death and criminal negligence causing death.

At provincial court, Barry sat in the prisoner’s box as Judge Lisa Watson granted a release order with a $5000 deposit.

READ MORE:

• Serious collision on Highway 11 at Dundurn
• A fatal collision near Dundurn over the weekend leads to an arrest

Supporters for both the victims and the accused occupied seats in the courtroom.

Barry’s release order has multiple conditions such as reporting to a probation officer within two working days of release and remaining at home from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Additionally, she must answer the door when requested by a probation or police officer and refrain from possessing or consuming alcohol, cannabis and any non-prescribed drugs.

Other conditions read by Watson stated that Barry is prohibited from entering establishments primarily focused on selling cannabis or alcohol, cannot sit in the driver’s seat of a vehicle and must provide suitable breath samples upon police request if there are reasonable grounds to suspect a violation of her consumption conditions.

Brian Pfefferle, the defense lawyer for Barry, said he’s happy with the judge’s decision.

“There are people that are detained pending trial. This was someone we didn’t feel should have been, and we’re glad the court sided with us,” he said.

Pfefferle said it’s common for individuals to be granted bail in these types of cases.

“We have a history in our country of releasing people pending trial, and for good reason,” he said. 

“The presumption of innocence is the most important presumption to make sure that an individual can be fairly treated,” he said, noting that it allows an individual to maintain their livelihood while they wait for a trial.

He anticipated it would take a number of months until more information is received about the incident, and said obtaining an accident reconstruction report is a key component for cases like this.

According to the RCMP the accident involving Barry happened just before 10 p.m. on Highway 11, one kilometre north of Dundurn on Oct. 19. 

Police say an investigation determined a truck driving north in the southbound lanes collided with an SUV.

In the SUV, a 50-year-old woman and a 20-year-old woman from Lake Isle, Alberta were declared dead at the scene.

According to police, two children in the truck were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Barry’s next appearance in Saskatoon Provincial Court is set for November 6.