MASON CITY – This Mason City woman was allegedly drunk and behind the wheel of her PT Cruiser as her two young children literally clung to the vehicle, and after she ran over their bicycle, cops arrived to remove this potential menace from the roads of our community.
Mason City police tell NIT that on September 2, 2025, at 7:28 PM, a bystander reported to police that two young boys had come up to him and reported their mom had just run over their bicycle. Officers responded to the 600 block of 9th Street NW to investigate, and they found the white PT Cruiser parked nearby at 10th and Jackson Avenue. Mara Alvarado-Hartzell was sitting in the drivers seat. Witnesses reported that Alvarado-Hartzell backed out of her driveway, with her 7 and 9 year old kids clinging to the hood and passenger door of the car.
“At some point, she apparently ran over one of their bicycles,” a police spokesman told NIT.
Officers arrested Alvarado-Hartzell on the following charges:
– OWI 1st Offense (Serious misdemeanor)
– Child Endangerment, two counts (Aggravated misdemeanors).
Alvarado-Hartzell (pictured at top), age 34, was taken to the Cerro Gordo county jail and booked in at 8:44 PM that night. She remains there at this time, held on $5000.00 bond. She now awaits a September 12 hearing.
NIT earlier reported that back in 2017, Alvarado-Hartzell was discovered by Charles City police, allegedly drunk and ready to do battle, but she ended up behind bars and owing a hefty price tag to Iowa courts for her actions.