A Luzerne County driver is facing charges following a one-vehicle crash that occurred at 10:50 a.m. on Tuesday at the intersection of Route 93 and Arthur Gardner Highway, in Banks Township, Carbon County.

State police at Hazleton said troopers saw Omar Rodriguez-Palomares, of Hazleton, driving Nissan Murano southbound and pass them at the intersection at a high rate of speed. Troopers lost sight of the vehicle and never actively pursued it.A short time later troopers were advised of a crash along Route 93 in the parking lot of St. Peter and Paul's Church involving a Nissan Murano.Troopers said the investigation revealed that Rodriguez-Palomares had lost control while negotiating a curve in the road and struck a utility pole along the berm.Rodriguez-Palomares got out of the Murano and threw a plastic bag containing heroin, marijuana and prescription pills into a nearby yard.He was flown to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, for injuries he sustained in the crash.Troopers said charges of driving under the influence and related drug counts will be filed against Rodriguez-Palomares at the office of District Judge Joseph Homanko of Weatherly.