By MARISSA DECHANT
Staff writer
A Rouseville man accused of committing homicide by vehicle while DUI waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday in Venango County Central Court.
Charges against Austin Clever, 18, will now be bound over for further proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas.
The charges stem from a May crash in Cornplanter Township in which Gregory Moyer, 16, of Rouseville, was killed.
Clever is facing felony counts of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, two counts of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, a count of homicide by vehicle and two counts of aggravated assault by vehicle.
He is also facing misdemeanor counts of DUI-general impairment-incapable of driving safely (first offense) and DUI-minor (first offense), as well as several driving-related summary charges.
A criminal complaint filed through District Judge Patrick Lowrey’s office said Franklin state police were dispatched to the crash at about 1:40 a.m. May 4 along Cornplanter Hill Road.
Police found a 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier with damage to the driver’s side roof, and Community Ambulance Service personnel were trying to remove a male victim from the back seat of the vehicle, the complaint said.
Officers determined that Clever was driving the car when it traveled off the roadway into a ditch and struck a tree, the complaint said. Moyer, who was sitting in the back seat on the driver’s side, had died as a result of his injuries, the complaint said.
A 15-year-old passenger suffered serious injuries in the crash, and a 17-year-old suffered minor injuries, the complaint said.
Clever was interviewed at the scene and told police he was driving down the hill when his phone lit up in the center console of the vehicle, the complaint said. Clever said he reached for his phone, and the vehicle traveled into the ditch, according to the complaint.
Clever said he was traveling about 40 miles per hour and that they were going to head toward Two Mile Run County Park before heading home, the complaint said.
Clever said he had consumed 1 1/2 Mike’s Hard Lemonades about two hours before the crash, called his mother right after the accident and that she told him to call 911, the complaint said.
He said he had his seat belt on during the accident but Moyer did not, the complaint said.
Police said they detected a moderate smell of alcohol on Clever, as well as observing his slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, the complaint said.
Officers administered sobriety tests on Clever, which showed signs of impairment, the complaint said.
Clever was taken into custody for driving under the influence and transported to Titusville Area Hospital for medical treatment, the complaint said.
A blood sample taken from Clever at the hospital later revealed a blood alcohol level of .037 percent, the complaint said.
Clever remains released on $50,000 unsecured bail.
