PLYMOUTH, IOWA – A North Iowa woman allegedly rear-ended a couple who had stopped at a stop sign, and law enforcement suspects alcohol factored into the collision.
On the evening of November 4, 2016 around 8:15 PM, the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office and along with the Mason City Police Department investigated a two vehicle collision. Alexis Elizabeth Ballantyne, age 22 Plymouth, Iowa, was operating a black 2007 Ford Fusion which rear-ended a silver 2010 Nissan Rogue which was stopped at a stop sign in Plymouth. The 2010 silver Nissan was being operated by Richard Glenn Peshak, age 58 and the passenger was Debra Ann Peshak, age 55 also of Plymouth. There was no word on any injuries in the crash.
Ballantyne is being held at the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $2,000.00 bond on charges of second-offense operating while intoxicated, open container, and failure to stop in safe and assured distance.
Alcohol was believed to be a factor during the investigation, the sheriff’s office said.
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Department was assisted by the Mason City Police Department, and Plymouth Fire and Rescue.
This is Ballantyne’s second drunk driving incident in the Mason City area.
At about 1:30 AM on October 4, 2014, a Cerro Gordo deputy was sent to 12th Street NE and Florida Avenue to investigate a car that was in the ditch. An ambulance was summoned to come to that location, before the deputy alerted that the female driver, Ballantyne, was at the scene and uninjured. The car appeared, at first, to have rolled over, but then it was determined that it had only driven straight into the ditch. After an investigation, the officer surmised that Ballantyne was intoxicated and arrested her for drunk driving. She was sentenced to 2 days in jail, given a year of probation, and ordered to pay $1,935.50 in fines and court fees.
People have been telling her for years to knock it off and grow up to no avail, some people just don’t learn. How many bridges have you burned with your drinking Alexis? A nicely worded comment isn’t going to fix those. Hopefully you finally get it.
These aren’t just words coming out of my mouth, these are not just sentences I’m typing to make myself look better. I’ve realized the problem I have, it may have taken me 5 years to figure it out but I unfortunately had to learn the hard way here and I’m facing it. I’ve realized I’ve lost some friends but I CAN and I WILL recover.
Alexis that is one of several things that you will have to deal with, talking with the people that you have hurt and or lied to. As I said, it won’t be easy, but you have to face it head on.
Do not be afraid to admit your failures with others, you cannot make things right with them until you make things right with you.
Things will not change overnight.
One way to look at is, it took you a long time to get to this point, so it will take a while to get out of it.
Stay strong and believe in yourself, even if at this point not one else does. They will come around, in time.
Your words of kindness mean so much to me right now… I didn’t think anyone, let alone a stranger, would give me the advice that you have these past couple of days. I’m already embarrassed & ashamed of letting this reoccur a second time. It’s already enough to deal with so I’m trying my hardest to ignore the mean comments.
no matter what they tell you, you don’t have to spread your legs to make it through treatment. don’t fall for it.
I am the 22 year old here that this post is about.
I was involved in a car accident last night due to being under the influence. I don’t know why I think it’s okay for me to get behind the wheel after I’ve had a few. Because it’s far from okay – it could’ve been my life or the other victims life gone within an instant. I’m sorry. i will be doing inpatient treatment at prairie ridge. . I’m clearly aware I need help, I’ve just avoided admitting that I have a problem. I need to face reality and do something about it before it’s too late.
Alexis- this is great to hear and the first step towards your freedom from substance abuse. I too had a substance-abuse problem when I was around your age and it took me a while to figure it out. I am now in my 50s and have led a very productive and happy life since my experience in the treatment center. Coming to grips and admitting you have a problem is the hardest part in recovery. Find yourself a higher power and get through the program, it will change your life for the better… Congratulations on your decision.
Thank you. I’ve dealt with a lot over the last few years and this was my way of coping – it temporarily takes away your anxiety, your racing thoughts and temporarily also gets rid of worry about the problems someone’s facing during the time being. But then a night of drinking just leads to more problems like this one. Alcohol is a drug – It’s one of the worst drugs out there. I hate that I got involved with drinking but you’re right, one step at a time and I’ll recover. Thank you for not bashing on me – means more than you think.
Good for you Alexis
I know it may sound cliche’ but it is the truth.
Realizing that you have a problem is the first step.
It will not be easy, but then nothing worthwhile ever is.
One day at time Alexis, one day at a time.
And years from now, when you look back on what you have accomplished, you will be so proud of yourself and smile.
Remember that through the difficult times and you will prevail.
My best wishes to you young lady.
I cannot wait for the day where I can look back and realize how bad my decisions were. One day when I have children I will explain to them that it’s not okay because I’ve been down the wrong path and it’s not worth it. My first offense is still haunting me to this day & it was two years ago. I’ll probably be 30 by the time it all passes and it stops haunting me. I’m young, dumb and need to address my issue now instead of later. Thank you William.
This girl is only 22 years old and on her second OWI. That is a true sign of a drinking problem. Her family needs to get her the help she needs for substance abuse. Way too young for this.
🙁
I would have said –A mexican fusion slammed into the rear of a japanese pos. Hitlery promises to give all alocholics a free telsa government paid for self driving car. So there you TRUMPERS. !!!
I was going to vote for Trump but after reading all your crazy post on here I am not going to vote for him now. I cannot put myself or my family in the same camp with crazy people like you. You have driven me away from Trump with your wacko post.
If you think that is whacko just look at Clinton.
It is just sad that the Republican Party has turned into wackos like this anonymous fella. You old timer Republicans got to be just proud as punch
Oh we are proud. It is you Democrats we are ashamed of.
Well I am not a Democrat, but I do have more respect for them than I do you Republicans. You Republicans have nothing but a higher than thou snobbish attitude about you. All you can do is slam people that don’t agree with you and act like you’re better than everybody. At least the Democrats are just common folk and not a bunch of people that talk down to others. You Republicans should be ashamed of yourselves. You have let the grand old party go to hell , it used to be very respectable but now it is not at all. If you can condone the things that Anonymous messages are saying then you’re just as bad as him. I was actually going to vote for tromp until I Saha all of his supporters acted, and your comment above is a perfect example Of that. It’s people like you that’s going to lose the election for Trump.
You’re right Vince. The nonpolitical independent voter is who is going to decide this election and the more I hear and see the arrogance of the Republicans the more and more it turns me off to them, their party and their candidate
Yeah why can’t the Republicans be more like Hillary and let the entire world know our nations secrets? If top secret information is good enough for Anthony Weiner, then why not the rest of us. Hillary is sorry for what she did, just the same as her husband Bill is sorry for all the whoring around he’s done. You folks don’t really think any of the Clinton’s enjoy living like this do you? Really? I can’t wait for Chelsea to continue their dynasty. Things work better when the Democrats are in charge of our lives. Who needs money anyway when we have all the free stuff we could ever want?
The country would be a better place IF everyone was a registered independent.
I do not want the Republicans to be more like Hillary. I want the Republicans to be more like Republicans! This used to be the party of Ronald Ragan the partnership of honor, the party of respectability. Now we have Donald Trump as the leader of the Republican party?? You have leaders in supporters that do nothing but bash, they don’t come up with any solutions, You mean to tell me you’re proud of all of this? By the way I did not bring up Hillary or the Democrats, you did. Just can’t believe what the Republican Party has become and quite frankly I’m ashamed of it.
Yeah be an Independent so you can tear the ass out of your pants from jumping back and forth across the fence.
I was being serious. Why ruin it when the Democrats will give us all the free stuff we could ever want?
moron
^Hey anonymous, thanks for helping me prove my point.
Drunk and probably texting.
Maybe if she had spent more than 2 days in jail the first time she wouldn’t be repeating. … 22 and second offense and both involving accidents! How many times before she injures someone seriously or kills them?? They usually don’t kill themselves in these wrecks.