BUTLER TWP — An Allegheny County man was under the influence of alcohol and drugs when he drove his pickup truck into a house in December, police said.

A woman and her children were at the home in the 200 block of Whitestown Road watching television but they were not hurt.

The suspect, James E. Pahler Jr., 48, of East Pittsburgh, ended up at a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment of a left leg and facial injuries.

Butler Township police last week filed a list of criminal and other charges against Pahler, who faces a preliminary hearing March 19.

Investigators said Pahler was driving west on Whitestown Road about 10:10 p.m. Dec. 13 when he lost control of his 1979 Chevrolet C 1500 truck.

The pickup crossed the double yellow lines, traveled into the eastbound lane and went over the curb before hitting the front of the ranch-style house.

Pahler was thrown out the driver’s side door of the truck. Emergency crews found him sprawled on the ground next to the pickup. Police said he was in pain from his injuries and he reeked of alcohol, according to court documents.

He was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital and then to Allegheny General Hospital.

On Friday, police received results from a toxicology sample that showed Pahler was nearly twice the state’s 0.08 percent legal limit for alcohol when he crashed. His blood-alcohol level was 0.157 percent, documents said.

Additionally, he tested positive for cocaine and benzodiazepine, a powerful drug commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia.

Pahler is charged with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, disregarding traffic lanes, driving too fast for condition and driving with worn tires.

The house, owned by Rich Kline, reportedly had minor foundation damage in the wreck.