A woman who caused a fatal collision by driving in the wrong direction on a divided highway has been granted day parole in advance for when she becomes eligible next month. Brittany Barry, aged 35, admitted guilt to driving under the influence, resulting in the deaths of Laura Hannah, 53, and Jamie Hannah, 20, and injuring her own two children who were passengers in the vehicle. The tragic incident occurred on October 19, 2024, on Highway 11 near Dundurn, approximately 35 kilometers southeast of Saskatoon. Barry is currently serving a six-year prison sentence, which commenced on March 14, 2025.
Federal inmates are entitled to apply for full parole after serving one-third of their term, with the possibility of seeking day parole six months prior to that milestone. Recently, the Parole Board of Canada accepted Barry’s request to transition to a community-based residential facility, commonly known as a halfway house, upon her eligibility for day parole. The board acknowledged concerns from the victims’ relatives about the timing of her release but also took into account Barry’s acknowledgment of her actions, commitment to personal growth, and pledge to lead a sober life and avoid criminal behavior.
While in the halfway house, Barry will be granted select “leave privileges,” including unsupervised temporary absences for family visits, church attendance, and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Specific conditions imposed on her day parole mandate abstinence from alcohol, avoidance of bars, prohibition from driving, and compliance with prescribed treatment and counseling. She is also prohibited from any form of contact, direct or indirect, with the victims’ family, except for her own children. The parole decision underscored Barry’s existing seven-year driving ban as part of her sentencing, reinforcing the no-driving condition for added accountability.
