BUTLER TWP — A Chicora man was more than double the legal limit for alcohol when he led police on a high-speed chase before crashing his pickup truck into a tree last month, authorities said.

Butler Township police Tuesday charged 21-year-old Joshua Alan Wallace with the suspected drunken driving wreck Oct. 28.

Police said that an officer was on patrol about 2 a.m. when she spotted the defendant's truck coming from behind her cruiser while eastbound on Route 68.

The pickup was swerving over the double yellow lines, according to court documents, so the officer pulled over and allowed Wallace to pass her. The officer followed the truck as it turned onto South Benbrook Road.

The pickup was still swerving when the officer activated her emergency lights, attempting to stop the suspect at the Greenwood Drive intersection. Instead, police said, Wallace speeded up and tried to get away.

The chase continued west on Greenwood Drive, and the defendant is accused of running a stop sign at the Route 422 intersection.

Police said Wallace turned left onto Route 422 west and nearly collided with an oncoming vehicle.

Moments after the turn, the pickup crossed three lanes of traffic before hitting an embankment. The vehicle went airborne into a yard, police said, and struck a magnolia tree.

The officer had to force open the driver's side door of the truck to get Wallace out. He suffered head and facial injuries in the crash.

The defendant acknowledged having consumed eight or nine beers and two shots of whiskey at a friend's house, documents said.

He was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries and for a blood draw. Toxicology results showed his blood-alcohol level was 0.210 percent. A level of 0.08 percent is considered intoxicated under state law.

Wallace is charged with a felony count of fleeing or attempting to elude police and misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence.

Additionally, he was cited for driving at an unsafe speed, driving without insurance and driving a vehicle without valid inspection.

Police said Wallace was charged by summons and a preliminary hearing was not immediately scheduled.