A Florala woman was jailed Monday after her 3-year-old escaped from the home and narrowly missed being struck by an 18-wheeler, Florala Chief Sonny Bedsole said.

The incident occurred just before 11 a.m. Monday, Bedsole said.

“The child was in the middle of South Third Street and was nearly struck; however, the truck was able to stop, and a local resident rescued the child from the road way,” Bedsole said.

The resident took the child to the police department, where officers immediately began canvassing the neighborhood for the missing child’s family.

“About an hour later, the mother – a Heather Nicole Adams – came to the police department and said she realized her child was missing,” Bedsole said. “The mom said she had a cold, taken some Benedryl and laid down with the child. She said the baby usually laid down, too, but somehow the child snuck out.”

Bedsole confirmed that no 911 call was made concerning the missing child. He said the child suffered minor scrapes from briars, but was otherwise unharmed.

He said the Covington County Department of Human Resources removed the child, as well as a 7-year-old sibling, from Adams’ home and placed them into foster care.

This is the second incident of its nature involving Adams and her children, Bedsole said. The first occurred in Florida.

Adams, 27, was charged with reckless endangerment and was later released from the Covington County Jail under a $500 bond.