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Smithmill man to stand trial in DUI homicide

Beers accused of striking, killing reverend, 81

CLEARFIELD — A 22-year-old Clearfield County man will stand trial for homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday during centralized court in Clearfield County.

According to court documents, Nathaniel Robert Beers, Smithmill, was under the influence of alcohol when he struck and killed an 81-year-old Winburne man near his home on Sept. 1.

Beers is also charged with homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, and aggravated assault by vehicle, all felonies, as well as misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person and DUI, as well as several summary offenses.

He is free on $75,000 bail.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, police saw a Polaris utility vehicle parked on the eastbound shoulder of Sportsman’s Road in Cooper Township. The Rev. Robert Leslie Humenay, who was deceased, was lying directly in front of the vehicle.

Police reported that Beers was sitting on a guide rail along the westbound side of the road.

During an interview with police, Beers said he was driving the UTV northbound when he saw the man walking. He stated that he tried to go to the right side of the road, but he still struck the man, the report states.

“I hit him on the driver’s side of my buggy. You can see the damage on the driver’s side over there,” he told police, according to the affidavit.

Because he appeared to be under the influence and allegedly had an odor of alcohol on his breath, police asked Beers if he had been drinking. He reportedly admitted to having three or four cans of beer in a bar.

He failed a field sobriety test and a preliminary breath test indicated the presence of alcohol. Beers was taken for a blood test, but the results were not included in the report.

It was noted that Sportsman’s Road is not approved for ATV or UTV use.

The vehicle also did not have a registration plate, the report states.

Humenay was ordained as a priest in May 1969, according to his obituary. “Father Bob” served in various places including Erie, McKean, Titusville and Frenchville.

He was also a chaplain with the United States Air Force until 2000. He served the Diocese of Erie as a member of the Senate of Priests, the Catholic Committee on Scouting and the Clergy Continuing Education Committee.

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