Mystic -- Stonington police charged a local man with driving under the influence early Saturday morning after they say his speeding pickup truck was launched into the air as it went over the drawbridge and the struck a series of signs and a fence before hitting a utility pole.

Justin P. Aleshire, 24, of 6 Elihue St., Stonington, was charged with reckless driving, traveling unreasonably fast and failure to drive right in the 2:14 a.m. crash on East Main Street near the Mystic post office. He was taken to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor facial injuries. He was later released on a $600 bond.

According to police, they received a 911 call of the crash at 2:14 a.m. Just before that officers in the area reported hearing the sound of squealing tires and a crash. Groton Town police reported seeing the pickup truck traveling at a high speed on West Main Street toward the drawbridge. As officers arrived, they said Aleshire was getting out of the truck and appeared to be intoxicated.