Authorities say 29-year-old Ciara Algarin-Fisher was arrested after a head-on crash in Oak Harbor, accused of driving under the influence with her young son in the car. She faces operating a vehicle under the influence and child endangerment charges and was released on her own recognizance ahead of a scheduled court appearance, according to officials.
Police report the collision happened Saturday night on Craig Bridge Street in Oak Harbor, and court records reviewed by WTVG indicate Algarin-Fisher knowingly got behind the wheel while intoxicated with her son as a passenger. The report states she was taken into custody at about 10:47 p.m. after the head-on crash.
As reported by WKRC, Algarin-Fisher was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence and child endangerment, and a judge set bond as own recognizance. She was expected to appear in court on Monday. Court records and booking logs list the charges, and the case remains pending as prosecutors review the matter.
What the charges mean
Operating a vehicle under the influence is codified at Ohio Revised Code §4511.19 and can bring misdemeanor penalties, including mandatory minimum jail time, fines and license suspension, depending on the facts of the case and any prior convictions. Endangering children under ORC §2919.22 can be elevated to a felony if the violation results in serious physical harm or involves other aggravating factors. Those statutory provisions outline how prosecutors and judges may pursue and punish cases involving young passengers. See ORC §4511.19 and ORC §2919.22 for the statutes.
