A Saskatchewan woman accused of driving down the wrong lane of a highway while impaired and causing a fatal crash plans to plead guilty.
Police say in the morning hours of Oct. 19, 2024, a truck was driving north in the southbound lanes of Highway 11 when it collided with an SUV. The driver and passenger of the SUV were pronounced dead at the scene.
The victims were identified as a 50-year-old woman and 20-year-old woman from Lake Isle, Alberta. Two children were also injured in the collision. Brittany Barry, 32, faces 16 charges in connection with the incident.
On Thursday, Barry’s lawyer Brian Pfefferle told CTV News she intends to enter a guilty plea to four of the charges, including two counts of dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
“Ms. Barry did confirm her intention to plead guilty to four of the 16 charges. We anticipate the remaining charges being dismissed after sentencing, and that a joint submission will be presented the length of the jail sentence that we’re jointly suggesting, as well as the driving prohibition is not yet public,” Pfefferle said in a phone interview.
Pfefferle says Barry had no prior criminal conviction on her record and has deep remorse for her actions.
“Ms. Barry, by saying she’s pleading guilty, is agreeing that her behavior on that day was a marked departure from the standard of a reasonably prudent driver in the circumstances,” Pfefferle said.
“And so, certainly, driving the wrong way on the highway would in most cases meet that legal definition, and certainly her guilty plea acknowledges that it does in this case.”
According to Pfefferle, the guilty pleas will be formally entered during a hearing on March 14 along with a joint submission sentence.
“Ms. Barry had indicated to us that she wished to enter a guilty plea as soon as possible.”
