By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Authorities say a Woodleaf woman was trapped with her vehicle for 11 hours after she wrecked on her way to work and ended up in a creek. She was charged with driving while impaired.
Kimberly Owens French, 42, 487 Lochshire Lane, Woodleaf, was driving her 1997 Toyota RAV4 heading to work Wednesday at T.R. Curlee Electric in Kannapolis.
Trooper Bradley Potts said French’s vehicle was the only one involved in the wreck, which occurred at 6:30 a.m.
French wasn’t found and rescued until 5:35 p.m.
The wreck occurred on Woodleaf Road, just over four miles northwest of Salisbury.
“She was not pinned in. She had gotten out and couldn’t climb the bank,” Potts said.
The trooper said French told him she attempted to swim across the creek, but she was unable to and at some point got back into her car.
French was discovered when the property owner checked on his cows and noticed his fence was down. He followed the line of the fence and saw tire tracks. He called 911 when he found French’s car. The vehicle was totaled.
French told the trooper she fell asleep at the wheel. She swerved off the right side of the road and plowed through about 800 feet of fencing.
Potts said French had some injuries. He was not sure the extent of them but said they weren’t life threatening.
She was taken to Rowan Regional Medical Center and later transferred to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Hospital officials say she is in good condition.
Potts said there have been several wrecks near the creek. Other emergency medical personnel also helped in getting French out.