A cancer revelation has delayed sentencing for a woman who pleaded guilty following a dramatic crash into a Lakeshore home that injured four people, including her young child. Dana Fountain-Smith, of London, Ont., appeared in a Windsor courtroom Friday, where she revealed she has cancer — something neither the judge nor Crown prosecutor had previously been made aware of. With no supporting medical documentation presented, Justice Brian Dube postponed sentencing to allow more information about her condition to be provided. Crash injured four, including driver’s child The case dates back to Aug. 12, 2024, when a vehicle slammed into a home near Highway 77 and County Road 8 shortly after 1 a.m. Four people inside the vehicle were taken to hospital with injuries described at the time as non-life-threatening, including Fountain-Smith’s 7-year-old child. Nobody inside the home was injured. Fountain-Smith was arrested the following month and later pleaded guilty in connection with the crash. During Friday’s sentencing submissions, the Crown argued the collision followed a series of poor decisions, including driving while impaired and with a suspended licence. Court also heard Fountain-Smith’s child was not properly secured in a booster seat and that she initially misled investigators by identifying another passenger as the driver. “This wasn’t one bad decision,” the Crown argued, pointing to the circumstances leading up to the collision. Prosecutors are seeking two years less a day behind bars, while the defence is seeking a conditional sentence that would allow Fountain-Smith to serve her sentence in the community. The Crown acknowledged she has no previous criminal record, has expressed remorse and pleaded guilty, sparing her child from potentially testifying against her. Sentencing delayed until spring Dube expressed concern about the prospect of Fountain-Smith receiving medical treatment while incarcerated, but said more documentation is needed before her health can be considered in sentencing. The judge also acknowledged that awaiting punishment can carry its own burden. “You’re doing time already,” Dube said, referring to the possible sentence hanging overhead. “But I think in this case we need to push it off.” Fountain-Smith is scheduled to return to court Feb. 25, 2027, with medical documentation and further submissions. The judge indicated sentencing would not take place until after March break.
