An Evans City man is facing driving under the influence and drug charges after police said fentanyl was found in his system after he severed a utility pole in a December crash.

Cranberry Township police charged Louis H. Schilling Jr., 46, with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and a summary traffic violation.

An officer, who responded to the crash shortly after 6 p.m. Dec. 9 in the area of 7577 Franklin Road, determined a Jeep Liberty struck and severed the utility pole. Wires attached to the pole were laying across both lanes, police said.

Another officer saw Schilling attempting to cover 48 stamp bags of suspected heroin with leaves while he was kneeling next to a tree near the scene, and 12 empty stamp bags were then found in his jacket pocket, police said in an affidavit.

Schilling told police the crash occurred after he swerved to avoid a deer that ran in front of his vehicle. He also told police he consumed one alcoholic drink. Police said it appeared that his vehicle drifted off the northbound shoulder, climbed a guard rail and hit the pole that was behind the rail, police said.

Results of a blood test taken after the crash revealed he had fentanyl, norfentanyl and bromazolam in his system, police said.