MASON CITY – This Mason City woman was allegedly driving the wrong way on 19th Street near Newman school, texting away on her phone after a number of cold ones, and then smashed head-on into another driver, and now consequences loom.
The incident took place just after midnight on June 20, 2025. Mason City police were dispatched to a two-car collision near the intersection of 19th Street SW and South Benjamin Avenue at 12:10 AM. The collision investigation alleges that 40-year-old Betsy Lynn Wright of Mason City crossed the centerline while using / texting her cell phone and struck an oncoming vehicle, while intoxicated. Wright was driving a 2021 Jeep Cherokee westbound on 19th Street SW, police tell NIT, as Kathryn Foster of Clear Lake was driving a 2012 Toyota Camry eastbound on 19th Street SW. Between Benjamin Avenue and Grover Avenue, officers allege Wright crossed the center lane and collided with Foster’s vehicle.
No injuries were reported.
Damage to Foster’s vehicle appears extensive. The collision snapped off one of the tires to Foster’s Camry. One or more airbags deployed inside Foster’s vehicle.
Damage to Wright’s Jeep was estimated at moderate.
Wright was charged with:
– OPERATING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE 1ST OFFENSE (SERIOUS MISDEMEANOR)
– USE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE – AGE 18 OR ABOVE (SCHEDULED VIOLATION)
– DRIVING ON WRONG SIDE OF TWO WAY HIGHWAY (SCHEDULED VIOLATION)
Wright (pictured at top) was jailed and soon released, pending a preliminary hearing set for July 11 and 1:15 PM.