FLORENCE — A local woman has been charged after two of her three children fell from her car into a street Tuesday near a busy intersection, police said.

Kimberly Marie Simbeck, 21, Cherry Hill Homes, Florence, is charged with reckless endangerment, police said.

The charge is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine, if convicted.

Police said the incident happened at Helton Drive and Hermitage Drive. Reports indicate Simbeck was turning onto Hermitage Drive from Helton Drive when the passenger side front door came open and her twins — a boy and girl who are 2 years old — tumbled out onto the street.

A police officer was at a nearby convenience store and witnessed the incident, according to the report.

The officer said in the report that a motorist directly behind Simbeck, was forced to “slam” on the brakes to keep from running over the children.

Police said a third child, a 3-year-old, riding in the front seat of the car was not injured.

Florence police detective Keith Johnson said the two children who fell from the car were not seriously injured.

“Apparently, they had some minor scratches, and they were treated at the scene,” he said. “They are very lucky that they were not hurt any worse.”

Johnson said, according to the officer who saw the incident, the back seat of Simbeck’s car was piled with trash bags containing clothes and other items “which were covering the child car seats.”

According to the officer, all three of Simbeck’s children were riding in the front seat.

The Lauderdale County Department of Human Resources took custody of all three children. Authorities said the children will remain under the supervision of DHR but have been placed with a family member.

Simbeck was released from jail after posting $1,000 bail.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.