Woman with 10-month-old in SUV leads police on chase, crashes into Piggly Wiggly store

KINSTON, N.C. (WTVD) -- A woman is facing several charges after crashing a car into a grocery store Thursday afternoon in Lenoir County.

It happened around 4:45 p.m. at 2240 U.S. 258 in Kinston.

Stephanie Marie Morales, 39, of Kinston, drove a small black SUV into the front entrance of a Piggly Wiggly, leaving the doors destroyed. Authorities said she then left the scene, leading them on a two-mile chase.

Morales stopped and got arrested at the Auto Zone on US 70. Police found a 10-month-old child in the front seat of the SUV unrestrained.

Officers also reported a 7-year-old girl was injured at the grocery store but is expected to be OK.

Morales is facing the following charges:

• Driving while impaired
• Injury to real property
• Misdemeanor child abuse
• Reckless driving
• Hit and run property, damage and injury
• Fail to decrease speed to avoid accident
• Driving while license revoked
• No liability insurance
• Expired registration
• Inspection violation
• Child not in rear seat

She did not receive bond.