A Shaler man yesterday was ordered to stand trial on charges that he was drunk Aug. 9 when he lost control of his construction vehicle in Etna, causing a bizarre accident in which a motorcycle rider was killed.

Stephen M. Novacic, 46, who was released early yesterday on bond from the Allegheny County Jail, is charged with felony counts of homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while driving drunk and involuntary manslaughter, as well as a misdemeanor drunken driving charge and reckless driving, a summary offense.

Assistant District Attorney Lisa Pellegrini amended the complaint against Mr. Novacic, withdrawing one count of careless driving.

Allegheny County homicide Detective Timothy Langan testified that the suspect admitted drinking before the accident in which Alan J. Brocklebank, 59, of Penn Hills, was killed.

Mr. Novacic was on a job that morning in Washington County for Swank Construction Co., and stopped for a sandwich and drinks at a pub at the Jockey Club before he returned to Etna around 3 p.m., Detective Langan testified.

Mr. Novacic admitted having at least three drinks with vodka and Sprite before he left the pub and drove to Etna.

While on a bend on Washington Street in Etna, Mr. Novacic said he swerved to avoid striking another vehicle. The quick maneuver caused him to lose control, sending his truck onto the sidewalk, through a chain link fence and over a steep embankment before it struck a tree.

The tree was toppled onto Parker Street where Mr. Brocklebank was riding his motorcycle. The tree struck Mr. Brocklebank, who was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he died at 5:32 p.m.

Detective Langan testified that Mr. Novacic's blood alcohol level after the accident was 0.27, more than three times the state's drunken driving threshold.

Defense attorney Robert Stewart argued that no evidence was presented to show Mr. Novacic's drinking was the cause of the accident.

"There was no sobriety test given," Mr. Stewart said. "The causation was the oncoming traffic."

District Judge Dennis Joyce disagreed, and ordered Mr. Novacic to appear Oct. 3 for formal arraignment in preparation for a trial.

"It's sad. He was drunk. He shouldn't have been behind the wheel of a vehicle," said Ray McMillen, a longtime friend of Mr. Brocklebank and a fellow motorcycle rider.

He said Mr. Brocklebank had worked with him for many years as a school bus driver for Pittsburgh schools before Mr. Brocklebank began driving about 10 years ago as a bus driver for the Port Authority.

"The guy works hard, putting his son through school, and a freak accident takes his life."

Mr. Brocklebank's motorcyclist friends and others have set up memorials at the crash site.

Mr. McMillen said Etna authorities have agreed to permit a permanent memorial at the site.