An Aquashicola man has been charged with driving under the influence after a crash in December.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by officer Dane O’Brien of the Palmerton Borough Police Department in the case against Charles Kistler:

At 9:42 p.m. Dec. 21, O’Brien was dispatched to the intersection of Third Street and Lehigh Avenue along with fire and emergency medical services for a crash involving a black SUV.

O’Brien arrived on the scene and found a black SUV outside of the traffic way on the south side of Lehigh Avenue pinned against a tree in the front lawn of a residence.

The driver was treated in the back of an ambulance by members of the Palmerton Ambulance Service and was later identified as Kistler.

Kistler said he went for dinner and ran off the roadway while on his way back to his residence.

While speaking with Kistler, O’Brien noticed that Kistler’s eyes were bloodshot, glassy and that an odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from him.

Kistler told police he had four to five beers that evening.

EMS personnel contacted hospital personnel, who recommended Kistler be brought in for an evaluation.

Because of Kistler’s condition, O’Brien was unable to request field sobriety exercises.

O’Brien later arrived at St. Luke’s Hospital-Carbon Campus at around 10:32 p.m. and Kistler consented to a blood draw. The test showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.177 percent.

O’Brien faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, and careless driving.

He is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing March 4 before District Judge William J. Kissner of Palmerton.