North Carolina Mother Faces Multiple Charges After Alleged 103 MPH Drunk Drive in Snowstorm With Unrestrained Toddler
JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. — Law enforcement officials are decrying an "unbelievable act of endangerment" after a North Carolina mother was arrested Saturday for allegedly driving at extreme speeds on ice- and snow-covered highways while heavily intoxicated and with her infant child improperly restrained in the vehicle.
According to the Johnston County Sheriff's Office, a deputy on patrol along Highway 70 near Princeton, approximately 40 miles southeast of Raleigh, observed a vehicle traveling at a dangerously high rate of speed amid deteriorating weather conditions shortly after noon on Jan. 31. Radar confirmed the vehicle was moving at 103 mph in a 55 mph zone.
Upon stopping the vehicle, the deputy identified the driver as 24-year-old Kierra Taylor of Goldsboro. Authorities reported a strong odor of alcohol and conducted a field sobriety test. Court documents later obtained by local media indicate Taylor's preliminary breathalyzer test registered a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.33—more than four times North Carolina's legal limit of 0.08.
"What we found in the back seat was the most disturbing part," said Sheriff's Office spokesperson, Lt. Maria Chen. "A 1-year-old child was in a car seat, but was completely unrestrained—the harness was not fastened. The combination of the speed, the road conditions, the intoxication level, and the vulnerable child created a perfect storm for a tragedy."
The incident occurred during a historic winter storm that blanketed parts of North Carolina with over 20 inches of snow, the state's largest single-day snowfall event since 2004. Governor Josh Stein reported over 1,000 weather-related collisions across the state during the weekend, resulting in two fatalities.
Taylor was taken into custody and charged with driving while impaired, speeding, reckless driving with wanton disregard, and misdemeanor child abuse. She was transported to the Johnston County Detention Center and later released after posting a $2,500 secured bond. Family members were contacted and arrived to take custody of the child, who was unharmed.
"This is a stark and alarming reminder that our choices behind the wheel have profound consequences, especially in severe weather," said Daniel Johnson, North Carolina's Transportation Secretary, in a separate statement urging residents to avoid non-essential travel. "Our teams are working around the clock, but we need the public's cooperation to keep everyone safe."
The case has been forwarded to the Johnston County District Attorney's Office for prosecution. Taylor is scheduled for a first court appearance later this month.
Community Reaction
David Reynolds, a retired school teacher from Princeton: "As a grandfather, this just breaks my heart. Those roads were a sheet of ice. It's a miracle no one was killed—that baby, other families on the road. The system needs to ensure she gets help, not just punishment."
Sarah Finch, a local child safety advocate: "This goes beyond a poor decision. This is criminal negligence of the highest order. A BAC of 0.33 indicates a severe problem, and an unrestrained child at that speed is an act of violence. The bond was far too low. The priority must be the child's permanent safety."
Michael Torres, a neighbor in Goldsboro: "I know Kierra. She's young and I think she's overwhelmed. This doesn't excuse what happened, not one bit, but I hope this is a wake-up call that leads her to get the support she clearly needs. The community shouldn't just vilify her; we should ask how we fail young parents before they reach such a desperate point."
Lisa Hammond, a nurse from nearby Clayton: "I'm furious. I spent that weekend working the ER, treating people from minor fender-benders. To hear someone willfully drove like that with a baby... it's infuriating. She gambled with her child's life and everyone else's on the road. The charges should be felonies."