New Brunswick

Impaired driving causing death charge laid in Fredericton crash

The charge against a Fredericton-area man was changed to impaired driving causing death on Monday when he made his first court appearance in connection with a single-vehicle accident last week.

Marc-André Doucet, 26, denied bail on charges in connection with crash near river that killed Jennifer Brewer

This car crashed around 4 a.m. Friday on St. Anne's Point Drive, killing a woman whose body was found Sunday in the St. John River. (Daniel McHardie/CBC)

The charge against a Fredericton-area man was changed to impaired driving causing death on Monday when he made his first court appearance in connection with a single-vehicle accident last week.

Marc-André Doucet, 26, was originally charged with impaired driving after a car failed to negotiate a turn on St. Anne's Point Drive about 4 a.m. last Friday, rolled, and almost ended up in the St. John River.

Fredericton police laid three new charges when Doucet appeared for a bail hearing. The other charges include dangerous driving causing death and impaired driving.  

On Sunday morning, the body of 24-year-old Jennifer Dawn Brewer, who police say was with Doucet in the vehicle, was found in the river.

Doucet was treated in hospital for injuries and released on Friday morning.

Fredericton police said neither person in the car was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Speed and alcohol were also factors, said police.

In provincial court on Monday, Doucet appeared before Justice Julian A. G. Dickson who denied him bail after a show cause hearing.  

Doucet will appear in court on June 28 at 9:30 a.m. to enter pleas on the charges. 

Members of the woman's family were upset during some of the proceedings. 

The accused, wearing a a plain grey sweatshirt with light brown pants teared up during the hearing.