Southern Alberta woman sentenced to house arrest, curfew for fatal collision [Video]

LETHBRIDGE –

A southern Alberta woman has been sentenced for a fatal collision that claimed the life of a 26-year-old Okotoks man in 2023.

In a Fort Macleod courtroom, Mary Many Bears was sentenced to two years less a day, eight months of which will be served as house arrest and the remaining time as curfew, along with a five-year driving suspension.

On Jan. 15, 2023, Matthew Schalm was driving on Highway 3 west of Fort Macleod when he was hit and killed.

Three others, including a five-year-old child, were seriously injured in the multi-vehicle crash.

Many Bears was arrested and charged.

Court documents show drugs were detected in her blood.

In September, Many Bears pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.

Judge Kristin Ailsby accepted a joint submission from the Crown and defence, calling it “fit and proper.”

“The sentence is very frustrating because we lost our son, and the impact is …