CLEARFIELD – An area man faces felony and misdemeanor charges for allegedly striking and killing an 81-year-old pedestrian with a utility terrain vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol.
Nathaniel R. Beers, 22, of Smithmill is charged by Clearfield state police with felony homicide by vehicle while DUI, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI and aggravated assault by vehicle; misdemeanor reckless endangerment and DUI; and seven summaries.
Troopers were called to the fatal crash around 5:42 p.m. Sept. 1 in Cooper Township, Clearfield County, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Beers was operating a Polaris RZR utility terrain vehicle on Sportsman’s Road when he struck the 81-year-old pedestrian, identified as Robert Humenay, killing him.
State police located Beers sitting on the guiderail. He reportedly had bloodshot and watery eyes, with an odor of alcohol emanating from his breath and person.
Beers agreed to speak with crash investigators on-scene, allegedly admitting that he was coming from a local bar where he’d consumed three or four beers.
State police subsequently conducted a series of field sobriety tests as well as a preliminary breath test, which confirmed Beers was impaired by alcohol.
Clearfield County Coroner Kim Shaffer-Snyder was summoned and pronounced Humenay dead on-scene. Beers was transported for a legal blood draw.
In the affidavit, investigators also noted that UTVs are not permitted on Sportsman’s Road.
During centralized court Wednesday, Beers had his preliminary hearing continued until Oct. 30 at Copper Cork Event Center in Clearfield.
Bail was previously set at $75,000 monetary, which online court documents indicate Beers had posted on Sept. 2.