Grampian Man to Stand Trial in Homicide by Vehicle Case

CLEARFIELD – A Grampian man is facing homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and related charges.

Eric Lynn McCall, 47, is also charged with felony aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, accidents involving death or personal injury, flight to avoid apprehension, homicide by vehicle and accidents involving death or injury while not licensed; misdemeanor DUI (two counts) and involuntary manslaughter; and nine summaries.

All charges were held to county court following a preliminary hearing Wednesday during centralized court at the Clearfield County Jail. McCall’s bail was also lowered from $50,000 to $25,000 monetary.

The fatal DUI crash occurred at approximately 11:45 p.m. April 3, 2019 on state Route 879, west of the Old Erie Pike, in Pike Township, Clearfield County, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the office of Magisterial District Judge Mike Morris.

State police say a Hyundai Veloster was traveling eastbound when it left the roadway, went down an embankment and hit multiple trees.

Then, the vehicle overturned onto its passenger’s side and impacted another tree before coming to a final rest. The vehicle sustained major damage.

State police say 41-year-old Christina M. Metzker of Clearfield was partially ejected through the passenger’s window. She was pronounced dead on-scene by Clearfield County Coroner Kim Shaffer-Snyder.

The second occupant, McCall, fled on foot, and Lawrence Township officers assisted with a search of the area. During the on-scene investigation, Mills reportedly observed multiple Busch Light beers inside the vehicle.

McCall was later located and displayed signs of impairment. He submitted to a preliminary breath test, which reportedly showed positive for the presence of alcohol.

Because of his injuries from the crash, he was flown to UPMC Altoona. A search of McCall’s driving history indicated his license was suspended due to a previous DUI, according to the affidavit.

Because evidence indicated McCall was the driver, state police requested Holidaysburg-based troopers to attempt to have a legal blood draw done at UPMC Altoona.

However, McCall refused to submit to a chemical test of blood, and state police obtained a search warrant for his medical records on April 5, 2019.

A toxicology report from NMS Laboratory was received April 18, 2019, and showed McCall’s blood-alcohol content was .185 percent, state police said.