Executive Summary
- Haley Jade Watson has pleaded guilty to charges regarding a July 2024 impaired driving crash that killed three men in British Columbia.
- The Crown is seeking a five-year prison sentence and an eight-year driving ban, citing high speed and a blood alcohol level over double the legal limit.
- Defense attorneys requested a conditional sentence served in the community, emphasizing Watson’s rehabilitation efforts and mental health struggles.
- A coroner’s report indicated the vehicle was traveling at 115 km/h in a 60 km/h zone before leaving the roadway.
CRANBROOK, British Columbia – A sentencing hearing commenced Monday for a woman who has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a catastrophic drunk-driving collision in July 2024 that resulted in the deaths of three young men.
Haley Jade Watson appeared in court in Cranbrook to face sentencing for the July 9 incident. Watson previously entered guilty pleas to charges related to the crash, which claimed the lives of Jackson Freeman, 25, of Sherwood Park, Alberta; Gavin Murray, 21, of Wilmer, B.C.; and Brady Tardif, 25, of Calgary. The three men were passengers in a Toyota Tundra driven by Watson when the vehicle left Westside Road near Panorama Drive in Wilmer, near Invermere.
According to a coroner’s report presented during the proceedings, the truck was traveling at speeds exceeding 115 km/h in a zone posted for 60 km/h. The report indicates the vehicle failed to navigate a curve, plunging down an embankment and resulting in the total destruction of the truck. Police investigators cited both excessive speed and intoxication as primary factors in the collision.
Prosecutors told the court that Watson recorded a blood alcohol content of 168 mg following the crash, a level more than double the legal limit. The Crown noted that as a novice driver under graduating licensing regulations, Watson was legally prohibited from having any alcohol in her system while operating a vehicle. Despite Watson having no prior criminal or driving record, the Crown is seeking a five-year prison sentence and an eight-year driving ban.
During the hearing, family members of the victims provided emotional impact statements. "We will never get Brady back, we’ll never get Jackson back and we’ll never get Gavin back," stated Aniessa Bowen, sister of Brady Tardif. Amanda Murray, mother of Gavin Murray, addressed the court, stating that her son would never know his future nieces and nephews, describing the loss as a profound severing of their family tree.
Defense counsel for Watson is advocating for a conditional sentence to be served within the community, followed by probation. Watson’s attorney argued that she is on a path to recovery, regularly attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and has not driven since the incident. The defense further stated that Watson attempted suicide following the collision and currently suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and survivor’s guilt.
Judicial Sentencing Factors
The court is now tasked with balancing the principles of deterrence and denunciation against the rehabilitative prospects of the offender. In cases involving impaired driving causing multiple deaths, the judiciary must weigh aggravating factors—such as the high speed and significant blood alcohol level—against mitigating factors like the guilty plea and the offender’s lack of criminal history. While the Crown argues for a penitentiary term to reflect the gravity of the loss of life, the defense’s request for a community-based sentence highlights the focus on rehabilitation. Sentencing submissions are scheduled to continue, with a final decision expected from the judge in January.
