Woman in jail following trip into Newport Harbor

-- Deepa Bharath

A 36-year-old Newport Beach woman is behind bars after she reportedly

drove her BMW into the Newport Channel on Thursday evening with her

5-year-old daughter as a passenger.

Police said Jessica Yarusinski was arrested on suspicion of felony

child endangerment. Officials also said they believe she was driving

under the influence of alcohol when the incident occurred.

Yarusinski was reportedly driving along 20th Street about 7:10 p.m.

Thursday when she crashed into a curb, launched through a brick wall and

landed in the channel.

Both managed to swim to safety. Neither was injured, but both were

taken to Hoag Hospital for an examination. The girl was handed over to

the Orange County Social Services Agency and was then taken to Orangewood

Children’s Home, the county’s children’s shelter, police said.

Yarusinski is being held in Orange County Jail with bail set at

$10,000.