Woman tests positive for heroin on day of sentencing

An Eastlake woman was sentenced April 13 to 5 ½ years in prison for causing a wrong-way crash on Interstate 90 while under the influence of drugs.

Amber Klapka, 38, was driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-90, just west of Bishop Road in Wickliffe, around 6 p.m. June 8, 2016, when she collided head-on into a vehicle driven by Borislav Samardzic. Her car then spun out and hit an Oldsmobile minivan operated by Annemarie Cvijanovic.

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

Cvijanovic was treated for a concussion.

Cocaine and heroin metabolite were found in Klapka’s blood, Assistant Lake County Prosecutor Michael Barth said.

“(The victims) did nothing wrong,” Barth said. “They were driving down a freeway in Wickliffe, obeying all the traffic laws. In a blink of an eye, their lives are changed forever.”

Slavojka spent one month in the hospital and five months in a nursing home. Her husband was in the hospital for 22 days, and their medical bills came to more than $250,000.

Klapka, who previously pleaded guilty in Lake County Common Pleas Court to two counts of aggravated vehicular assault and one count of vehicular assault, also was seriously injured.

Defense attorney Richard J. Perez said Klapka has had to undergo multiple back surgeries, and suffered injuries to her lungs, ribs, right femur, right hip, diaphragm, spleen, liver and pancreas.

Perez asked Judge Richard J. Collins Jr. for a lesser sentence since she showed genuine remorse for her actions.

“She has an 8-year-old son and is a wonderful mother,” Perez said.

However, the defense attorney admitted Klapka has had a long-standing problem with heroin despite multiple trips to rehab.

The judge noted that Klapka has a lengthy history of drug convictions and probation violations.

While out on bond after pleading guilty to the I-90 crash case, Klapka tested positive for cocaine and heroin in March, and then positive for heroin the day of sentencing.

“I am so sick and so scared and so sorry and I don’t know what else to say,” she told the judge while sobbing.

Barth said a message had to be sent.

“She hasn’t learned her lesson, and I don’t think she’s ever going to learn her lesson,” he said.

Klapka’s insurance is expected to pay for some of the victims’ out-of-pocket losses.

The judge is allowing Klapka to wait until April 25 to begin her sentence to give her time to treat a recent illness.

Her driver’s license will be suspended for eight years upon her release.

The Samardzics declined to speak in court. The other victim did not attend the hearing.