A weekend parking lot mishap turned into a legal nightmare for a Southwold woman who now faces multiple charges after allegedly driving impaired in downtown London.

The incident unfolded on Saturday, July 5th, when a 43-year-old woman was driving a pickup truck in a parking lot on the 100-block of Carling Street. Things went sideways pretty quickly when she collided with a concrete barrier, pushing it right into the roadway and getting her vehicle completely stuck on the cement.

Picture this: you’re stuck on a concrete barrier in broad daylight, and instead of calling for help, you decide to just… walk away. That’s exactly what happened here. Despite multiple attempts to free the truck, the driver eventually gave up, exited the vehicle, and started walking away from the scene.

But here’s the thing about downtown London – there are always witnesses. Multiple people saw the whole thing go down and promptly contacted police. The suspect was located and arrested nearby without any drama.

The London Police Service identified the woman as Sarah Angalene Chrisjohn, 43, of Southwold. She’s now facing a trio of serious charges: impaired operation of a conveyance, impaired exceed blood alcohol concentration, and fail to remain.

These aren’t exactly the kind of charges you want on your record. The impaired driving charges alone are serious business, but add in the fail to remain charge, and you’re looking at a particularly messy legal situation.

Chrisjohn is scheduled to appear in London court on August 11, 2025, to face these charges. The courts don’t mess around with impaired driving cases, especially when they involve property damage and leaving the scene.

The London Police Service used this incident as a reminder that road safety is everyone’s responsibility. They’re particularly focused on their “Vision Zero” strategy, which aims to eliminate all traffic-related deaths and serious injuries on local roads.

According to police, impaired driving poses one of the greatest risks to public safety on our roadways. It’s the kind of preventable incident that can turn a regular Saturday into a life-changing mistake.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing, and police are still looking for information. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has additional information can contact the London Police Service at (519) 661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. You can also submit tips online anonymously to London Middlesex Crime Stoppers.

Carling Street sees its fair share of traffic, being right in the heart of downtown London. The 100-block is a busy area with plenty of foot traffic and commercial activity, which explains why there were so many witnesses to the incident.

This case serves as a stark reminder that impaired driving doesn’t just happen on highways or late at night. It can occur anywhere, anytime, including busy downtown parking lots on a Saturday afternoon.