By Jim Smith

Butler Eagle Staff Writer

Butler police suspect a 64-year-old man was so drunk that he didn't realize he had lost a tire while driving through the city.

Not only was Christopher A. Smith of Gibsonia apparently unaware of the bumpy ride, he didn't notice the smoke coming from the tireless rim as he drove down South Main Street earlier this month.

Police on Monday charged Smith with driving under the influence. They say his blood-alcohol level was more than double the state's legal limit.

The defendant's conspicuous silver Toyota Sequoia prompted the first 911 call about 2:15 p.m. May 8.

The caller described the large sport utility vehicle as traveling south on the city's main drag “with parts protruding, a tire coming off and appearing that it was about to catch fire,” a police affidavit said.

An officer drove down town and spotted the vehicle and its bulging parts. By then, police said, the driver's side front tire was missing and smoke was coming from the rim.

The SUV was traveling at a “low rate of speed,” documents said, and the driver, later identified as Smith, did not stop even after the officer activated his cruiser's emergency lights and siren.

The suspect continued across the General Butler Bridge and onto Route 8 south before finally stopping just past Mac's Cafe.

Smith reeked of alcohol and appeared impaired, police said. He also was surprised to learn that his vehicle had only three tires on it.

He was arrested after failing field sobriety tests. A subsequent breath test showed Smith's blood-alcohol level was 0.190 percent. A level of 0.08 percent is considered intoxicated under state law.