VANCOUVER – A woman found guilty in a deadly drunk driving crash was released from prison Thursday.
Natasha Warren slammed her van into a car driven by Kassandra Kaulius in May, 2011. Before the accident, Warren drank a bottle and a half of wine while watching a hockey game. Her car was reportedly travelling at 103 km/hr when she hit Kaulius’ car. She then called her boyfriend and the two decided she should run from the scene and take the keys, so they could report the vehicle as being stolen. However, she was found in the bushes by police with a blood alcohol level that was twice the legal limit.
Warren was sentenced to three years, but is being released from custody after serving two years. She was also handed an eight-year driving ban.
Kaulius was heading home from a baseball game when she was killed. She was also working two jobs and attending the University of the Fraser Valley, studying to be a teacher, at the time of her death.
“It’s a very emotional day, a very troubling day,” said Markita Kaulius, Kassandra’s mother and founder of Families for Justice.
“I haven’t slept the last couple of nights, just thinking, it’s very stressful. To know that she’s going back in the community. I know that she has served two years, that’s a portion of the sentence she was given, but for my family and I, knowing that she’s probably moving back 20 minutes from where we live, it’s difficult.”
Last November, Warren was denied parole because the board found she lacked the insight to deal with her risk of re-offending.
“We never felt that the sentence that was given out was appropriate for the severity of the crime, for taking someone’s life while impaired,” said Markita. “We will never get to see our daughter again and that’s a really hard thing for a parent to live with, that you will never, ever get to be a part of your child’s life again.”
WATCH: Warren denied day parole:
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