Bettendorf Woman Charged with OWI After Alleged Cellphone Crash

22-year-old Susan Longstaff accused of causing accident while on phone

Mar. 24, 2026 at 6:33pm

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A 22-year-old Bettendorf woman named Susan Longstaff has been charged with operating while intoxicated (OWI) after allegedly causing a car accident while using her cellphone to drive on Paddock Drive in Iowa City.

Why it matters

Distracted driving and impaired driving are major public safety concerns, especially in residential areas. This incident highlights the dangers of combining these risky behaviors behind the wheel.

The details

According to the arrest report, Longstaff was leaving a friend's residence when she crashed into a parked car on Paddock Drive. Police say she performed poorly on field sobriety tests and registered a blood alcohol content of 0.132% on a Datamaster test, over the legal limit. Longstaff was charged with first-offense OWI, a serious misdemeanor.

  • The incident occurred on March 24, 2026.

The players

Susan Longstaff

A 22-year-old resident of Bettendorf, Iowa who was charged with OWI after allegedly causing a car accident while using her cellphone and driving under the influence.

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What’s next

Longstaff is scheduled to appear in court on April 5, 2026 for her OWI charge.

The takeaway

This case underscores the urgent need for better education and enforcement around the dangers of distracted and impaired driving, which continue to put innocent lives at risk in communities across the country.