Driver facing impaired charges after pickup pushes concrete block out onto street

A video on social media shows an alleged impaired pickup truck driver plowing through a concrete barrier. CTV London’s Bryan Bicknell brings the details.

A driver from Southwold Township is facing impaired driving related charges after a number of people witnessed a pickup truck attempt to exit a parking lot by pushing a concrete barrier out into the street.

It happened in a private lot on Carling Street this past Saturday, the unusual event posted to social media.

Aaron Nava, who works nearby, arrived to the scene in the moments after the incident occurred.

“I turned the corner and there’s this giant concrete block in the middle of the road with this large vehicle just driven right over top of it, with the block stuck underneath the tires. And there are these huge drag marks right across the floor,” Nava explained.

If there’s any positive news in this strange occurrence, it’s that it was witnessed by several people, who in turn contacted police.

Officers arrived within moments. According to police, a 43-year-old woman from Southwold is facing the following charges:

• Impaired operation of a conveyance
• Impaired exceed blood alcohol concentration
• Fail to remain

London Police Sgt. Sandasha Bough said they encourage members of the public to contact police when they see unusual activity like this.

“This situation could have been made even more dangerous had she made her way into the roadway and continued on. Thanks to tips from members of the public, we were able to get there very quickly and arrest an impaired driver,” said Bough.

Aaron Nava said people along the street were in shock at what they were witnessing.

“Everyone was looking. And this woman was in the middle of the street next to her vehicle just getting asked questions, and shouting back at people, and walking back and forth,” he said.

While this incident happened in a private lot, the city’s Manager of Parking Services and Compliance Sean Steenbergen said enforcement officers are kept on their toes in public parking situations as well.

“We see creativity across the board, but our primary focus again, community safety through voluntary compliance of the regulations, prior to any enforcement,” he said.

In the meantime, the driver of the pickup truck is scheduled to appear in court August 11.