North Carolina woman finds copperhead snake in car while driving

CHARLOTTE, NC -- There are a lot of things that can distract you behind the wheel. A copperhead snake is not usually one of those things.

That's exactly what Beckie Kistler came face to face with while she was driving down a North Carolina freeway at 70 miles per hour.

"I look out of my peripheral vision and here comes the snake," Kistler told ABC affiliate WSOC-TV. "I just said please God help me."

Kistler didn't know what to do at first, but she made a quick and crucial decision.

"I thought you can probably survive a snake bite, but there's no way you're going to survive a wreck," said Kistler.

Kistler managed to get to the side of the road and waited for the snake to get out of the way. She then dashed out of the car and called for help.

By the time police arrived, the snake had made its way to the car's glove box. Officers say she's lucky the snake didn't bite her.

"Copperhead bites can be fatal," animal control office Mike Seifert told WSOC-TV.

Kistler believes the snake likely got into her car during a trip she took more than a week ago.