N.W.T. drunk driver who caused fatal accident sentenced to 3.5 years

A 25-year-old Yellowknife man who caused a fatal head-on collision last summer in Alberta has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

Bradley Storm Beaulieu was sentenced in a Peace River courtroom Monday after pleading guilty to impaired driving causing death and impaired driving causing bodily harm.

According to police, he was driving southbound in the northbound lane of Highway 35 near High Level on June 24, 2023, when he drove into a truck with two Yellowknifers returning home. The female passenger was declared dead at the scene. The male driver, who tried to take evasive action, suffered serious injuries.

In addition to the prison time, Beaulieu was banned from driving for five years after his release, ordered to provide a sample to the federal DNA database, and ordered to pay $8,355 in restitution.

With credit for the time he's already served, Beaulieu has just over two years and three months left on his sentence.

Outstanding charges

Beaulieu faces other charges in the N.W.T. that have not yet gone to trial.

The day before that tragic accident, Beaulieu was charged with impaired driving and dangerous driving in Behchokǫ̀. A date is to be set on Oct. 1 for his trial on those charges.

Beaulieu is also facing charges of sexual assault and child luring dating back to July of 2021. He's elected to be tried by a judge and jury on those charges. A date has yet to be set for his trial.

He has previous convictions for dangerous driving and impaired driving, as well as speeding and two convictions for failing to stop for red lights.