MASON CITY – A Mason City woman who allegedly drove the wrong way on Interstate 35 while intoxicated has pleaded guilty and is in jail, serving her sentence.
Frightened motorists called 911 early on the morning of November 22, 2014, to plead with authorities to stop a car that was allegedly southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 35 in rural Cerro Gordo county. Dispatchers received several calls after 2:00 AM alerting to this situation. Multiple law enforcement agencies became involved in the attempt to locate and stop the vehicle. Soon thereafter, Clear Lake police and Iowa State Patrol were able to make the traffic stop near the 188 mile marker. Cerro Gordo deputies soon arrived on the scene, as well.
After an investigation, Samantha Jo Becker, age 24 of Mason City, was determined to be intoxicated by law enforcement and was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol. At the county jail, a breath alcohol test was applied to one female suspect at 3:53 AM – the only test given after the arrest of Becker to a female, although the name was not disclosed – and the result was 0.181 and 0.180. The legal limit in Iowa is 0.08.
Becker was charged with first offense operating while intoxicated and driving the wrong way on a two way highway. She pleaded guilty to the drunk driving charge on March 27 and was given a 180 day jail sentence, with all but 2 days suspended. She was also placed on 2 years of probation and ordered to pay $1,837.50 in fines and court fees. The charge of driving the wrong way is still in court. She awaits a non jury trial on May 21.
