BEAVER, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Raleigh County woman is facing felony charges after authorities say she struck two parked vehicles following an argument with a 19-year-old employee at a McDonald’s restaurant in Beaver.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Raleigh County Magistrate Court, Stephanie Louann French was charged in connection with an incident that occurred Sept. 22 at the McDonald’s located at 200 Airport Road.
A Raleigh County sheriff’s deputy responded to the restaurant regarding a private lot motor vehicle crash. According to the complaint, French was driving a white GMC Yukon when she became involved in an argument with the 19-year-old employee working at the drive-thru window.
French allegedly told the deputy that the employee called her an “old b***h” and told her to come inside the restaurant so they could “handle it.” French told authorities she then accelerated rapidly in anger and intended to head toward the store, according to the complaint.
French allegedly lost control of the Yukon and struck two vehicles parked in the restaurant’s parking lot. Both vehicles were unoccupied at the time.
Authorities said both vehicles sustained disabling damage and were towed from the property at their owners’ requests. The names of the vehicle owners and the McDonald’s employee are being withheld.
The 19-year-old employee later told the deputy that she did not say anything disrespectful to French and denied calling her an “old lady.” According to the complaint, the employee said French became belligerent with her and repeatedly called her a “kid.”
Investigators obtained surveillance video of the incident from a McDonald’s supervisor on Sept. 23. The video did not contain audio, but the deputy wrote in the complaint that it appeared to show French as the aggressor during the argument.
According to the deputy, the video showed French accelerate rapidly in anger, leaving a tire mark from the drive-thru area around the corner of the building before striking the two parked vehicles. The impact reportedly knocked one of the vehicles out of its parking space.
The deputy alleged that French operated the vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of people or property and demonstrated reckless driving. The complaint also noted that the corner of the building where the incident occurred is an exit point frequently used by customers.
Authorities said French’s actions caused losses totaling $2,500 or more in property value, resulting in two counts of felony destruction of property.
French was arrested in connection with the case and posted bond the same day. No mugshot is available.
