Fayette County woman accused of driving drunk with child in the car

A Fayette County woman was arrested Tuesday on charges she drove while drunk with a child in the car and lost control, crashing into a ditch, according to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.

Linnie Cassandra Magnuson, 35, of West Union, was charged with operating while intoxicated, driving while license barred, reckless driving, failure to maintain control, permitting an unauthorized person to drive, interference with official acts and two counts of child endangerment.

The Sheriffs’ Office was called at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday for reports of a possible crash. Deputies found a 2012 Dodge Caravan in a ditch on R Avenue, just north of E Burger Street. Witnesses told police that Magnuson and an 8-year-old child had walked from the car to a residence in Hawkeye, according to a criminal complaint.

Deputies found Magnuson at the home, where she had locked herself and the child in a bathroom. After a forced entry, Magnuson was taken into custody and charged, the Sheriff’s Office said. At the jail, a breath sample was taken and Magnuson’s blood alcohol content was found to be .196, more than twice the legal limit for driving.

The child and other witnesses said Magnuson had been driving the car when it crashed. After crashing, she had the child use the gas pedals while she attempted to get the car out of the ditch, according to a criminal complaint.

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