Pelham police photo The F350 pickup truck involved in a crash early Monday morning outside police headquarters sits in a clump of trees near the entrance to the station. (Pelham police photo)

PELHAM — Police Sgt. Adam Thistle was inside headquarters covering the overnight shift when, just before 2 a.m. Monday, police say, he suddenly heard a “loud crash” that drew his attention to the front of the building.

All Thistle needed to do, it turned out, was to walk out the front door to confirm the noise he heard was the sound of a large, older-model Ford F350 pickup taking out a road sign then crashing into a tree and a large rock — right at the entrance to the police station and neighboring Town Hall.

Police said that when Thistle walked over to the damaged truck to speak with the driver, later identified as Joseph Waelter, 51, of North Andover, Massachusetts, he was allegedly trying to drive away.

Waelter apparently didn’t get very far, as he was taken into custody a bit later and charged with driving under the influence, police said.

An investigation determined that the truck went off the road at a nearby traffic circle, struck the road sign, continued on across the Village Green and crashed into the tree and the rock, police said.

Pelham police photo The F350 pickup truck seen among trees in the background left tire tracks on part of the Pelham Village Green just outside the entrance to the police and fire stations. The driver was charged with DUI. (Pelham police photo)

Upon his arrest, Waelter was escorted into police headquarters for booking, and was later released on personal recognizance bail, police said. He is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 13 in Salem district court.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

Joseph Waelter, age 51, of North Andover, Massachusetts

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