A Butler man is charged with aggravated assault after a state trooper was injured during a three-hour vehicle pursuit early Sunday morning through Butler County that caused $25,000 damage to a patrol vehicle.

Police said around 2:05 a.m., Troopers Casey Fuller and Matthew Stimac were on routine patrol when they saw a silver Chevrolet pickup truck fail to stop on North Chestnut at New Castle Street while driving north in Butler.

When the troopers initiated a traffic stop, Fuller said that he detected a strong smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle, documents said.

Fuller questioned Nicholas Masella, 23, of Butler, who allegedly admitted to drinking.

He requested Masella exit the vehicle. However, Masella refused and fled the traffic stop, documents said.

The pursuit ensued west on Brady Street, left onto Delwood Road, left onto Evans Road and then north onto the North Main Street Extension. During the pursuit, police said Masella stopped on East Brady Street, where four passengers exited the vehicle. As the chase continued onto Evans Road, troopers used a precision immobilization technique, which was successful.

When the vehicle came to rest, Masella allegedly accelerated his vehicle toward the stopped police vehicle. He then drove his truck into the driver's side of the patrol unit, causing significant damage that disabled it, documents said.

Masella then allegedly fled the scene to the north and was located around 5:33 a.m., passed out behind the wheel of his truck as he parked facing westbound in the right-hand lane of SR 528 in Franklin Township. He was placed under arrest and submitted to chemical testing at Butler Memorial Hospital.

As a result of the crash, Fuller sustained injury to an upper extremity that required transport and treatment at a medical facility. Damage to the police vehicle was estimated at about $25,000 or more.

Throughout the pursuit, Masella allegedly committed 29 traffic violations. He was taken to Butler County Prison.

His charges include two counts of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance, fleeing or attempting to elude police officer, driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance with highest rate of alcohol, criminal mischief and six counts of recklessly endangering another person.