A North Carolina woman was arrested over the weekend after deputies say she was driving more than 100 miles per hour in snowy conditions with a 1-year-old baby unrestrained in the back seat.
According to the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy stopped a vehicle on Saturday, Jan. 31, after clocking it at 103 mph on Highway 70 near Princeton, roughly 40 miles east of Raleigh. The speed limit in the area was 55 mph.
Authorities said the driver, later identified as 24-year-old Kierra Taylor of Goldsboro, N.C., had a 1-year-old child in the back seat who was “unrestrained in a child seat.” Family members were later called to the scene and took custody of the child.
Although initial reports indicated Taylor’s blood alcohol content was 0.22, court documents obtained by local outlets showed her BAC measured 0.33 during a roadside test.
Taylor was taken into custody and charged with driving while impaired, speeding, reckless driving with wanton disregard, and child abuse. All charges are misdemeanors. She was booked into the Johnston County Detention Center and given a secured bond of $2,500.
The arrest came as much of North Carolina was experiencing rare and dangerous winter weather. The sheriff’s office urged residents to slow down and avoid unnecessary travel during the snowstorm.
“During this inclement weather, help keep everyone safe and stay home if possible,” the office said in a statement.
The storm brought record-setting snowfall across the state, with some areas receiving more than 20 inches. According to NBC News, Sunday marked one of the largest snow events in North Carolina since 2004. More than 1,000 crashes were reported statewide over the weekend, resulting in two fatalities.
State officials continued to warn drivers to stay off the roads if possible. “Please be patient and please stay off the roads unless it’s absolutely necessary,” Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson said. “If you do have to drive, slow down and give other cars, our teams and other first responders lots of distance.”
