Eastlake woman admits causing crash

Woman traveling wrong way on Interstate 90 injures 3

An Eastlake woman has admitted causing a wrongway crash on Interstate 90 while under the influence of drugs.

Amber Klapka, 38, was driving on I-90, just west of Bishop Road in Wickliffe, around 6 p.m. June 8, 2016, when the incident occurred.

“Multiple witnesses called 911 about a westbound vehicle in the eastbound lanes of I-90,” Assistant Lake County Prosecutor Michael Barth said. “I-90 was closed down by Wickliffe police. Cocaine and heroin metabolite were in (Klapka’s) blood.”

Klapka collided head-on into a vehicle driven by Borislav Samardzic. Her car then spun out and hit an Oldsmobile minivan operated by Annemarie Cvijanovic, Barth said.

Samardzic suffered sternal and rib fractures. His wife, Slavojka, had serious injuries to her ribs, right lung, right femur and neck, in addition to respiratory issues due to the crash.

Cvijanovic was treated for a concussion.

Klapka pleaded guilty Feb. 26 in Lake County Common Pleas Court to two counts of aggravated vehicular assault and one count of vehicular assault.

She now faces up to 11 ½ years in prison when she is sentenced April 2 by Judge Richard L. Collins Jr.

In exchange for her plea, 15 other counts were dismissed — including seven other counts of aggravated vehicular assault and two other counts of vehicular assault.

The other dismissed counts were one count each of OVI and possession of cocaine (less than 5 grams), two counts of possession of dangerous drugs (the antidepressant amitriptyline and the anticonvulsant valproic acid) and two counts of operating a vehicle while under the influence of a listed controlled substance (a concentration of cocaine metabolite in her blood serum) as well as a concentration of heroin metabolite (monoacetyl morphine) in her urine.

Klapka remains free on bond pending sentencing.

Collins warned her that if she tests positive for any nonprescribed medications, her bond will be revoked.

Defense attorney Richard J. Perez said Klapka had “significant injuries herself” because of the crash and will require back surgery before sentencing.

“She has been in significant pain,” Perez said. “She has tried not to do any (prescribed) opiates.”

Klapka has prior drug convictions in Cuyahoga and Lake counties.

Klapka