By Shawn Henry 
A routine midday drive in southwestern Ohio ended in an unusual and destructive crash after a woman reportedly choked while eating, lost consciousness, and drove into a gas station canopy before striking another vehicle.
The incident occurred around 12:05 p.m. at a Sunoco gas station in Wilmington, Ohio. Police say a white sedan entered the station’s parking lot and struck one of the canopy’s four support poles, causing part of the structure to collapse. The vehicle then collided with a parked car before coming to a stop. Despite the damage, the sedan narrowly avoided being crushed by the falling canopy.
According to a crash report obtained by local media, the driver of the vehicle, a 56-year-old woman, told a Wilmington police officer that she had been choking on a French fry while driving. She said she passed out behind the wheel, which caused her to lose control of the vehicle. The driver stated she did not remember hitting either the support pole or the other vehicle involved in the crash.
The woman was driving a 2016 Buick LeSabre at the time of the incident. She also told officers that she experiences a dry spot in her throat that can cause choking episodes. No injuries were reported as a result of the crash, either to the driver or to others in the area.
Police cited the driver for failure to control the vehicle. Following the collision, the gas station was closed as a precaution. The Wilmington Fire Department contacted a building inspector to assess the damage and determine whether the canopy structure was safe.
Witnesses described seeing the vehicle travel south before entering the Sunoco lot and striking the canopy support. The sudden collapse and emergency response drew attention from nearby residents and customers.
Reaction from the community spread quickly online after images and video of the damaged gas station circulated on social media. Some residents expressed surprise at hearing emergency sirens, while others said they were caught off guard after seeing the aftermath in person. Several locals also noted concern over the temporary closure of a store they regularly use.
While authorities described the crash as unusual, they confirmed it was treated as a traffic incident rather than a criminal matter. The investigation focused on documenting the cause of the crash and assessing structural damage to the gas station.
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