KELFORD – A 29-year-old mother of four faces multiple charges following a vehicle accident here Friday afternoon that injured three of her children.

As a result of the single-vehicle accident, North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper J.V. Reid charged Stephanie Marcos of Greenville with DWI, four counts of child endangerment, careless and reckless driving, and improperly restraining a child in a vehicle.

As to the DWI charge, Reid said preliminary reports alleged that Marcos was operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs.

In his accident report, Reid showed that Marcos was operating a 2002 Dodge van shortly past 2 p.m. on NC 308 inside the corporate limits of Kelford. There, the van reportedly ran off the road to the right after rounding a curve, struck a tree, and then impacted a brick decoration located near a private driveway.

There were four passengers in the van, all the children of Marcos ranging in age of 6 months to 8-years-old. The 6-month-old child was properly restrained in a child safety seat.

“The 6-month-old was the only child that was not injured in the accident,” Reid said.

The other three were restrained, but not in child safety seats.

“Those three children were all wearing seat belts that are designed to fit larger passengers. Regular seat belts in a vehicle are not designed for use by small children, other than to serve as an anchoring device to secure a child safety seat,” Reid stressed.

One of the children was airlifted from the scene by EastCare and flown to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville. Reid said the other two were initially transported by ground units to Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital in Ahoskie and later transferred to Vidant Medical Center.

As of Monday, Reid said the three injured children were all listed medically in stable condition.

Meanwhile, Reid said the mother suffered abrasions and contusions to her face and upper torso. She was treated and released from the hospital late Friday night.

Reid served the arrest warrants on Marcos on Saturday. Her court date is not known at this time.