Driver charged in injury crash

CATAWBA ISLAND — The Ohio State Highway Patrol charged the driver who allegedly caused a crash Friday in Catawba Island, which seriously injured his passenger.Robert Sotka, 49, of Westlake, was charged aggravated vehicular assault, OVI and failure to control.At about 10:30 p.m., Sotka was driving a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro south on Ohio 53 when he lost control on a curve, went off the road and struck the guardrail, according to the patrol.The vehicle went back into the road while continuing to hit several hundred more feet of guardrail. It became disabled and blocked an entire lane of Ohio 53.His passenger, Broadview Heights resident Gerard Loftus, 64, suffered serious incapacitating injuries from the crash and was flown by medical helicopter to Toledo ProMedica Hospital."They were pretty serious injuries," patrol Lt. Brett Gockstetter said. "He suffered severe facial and head trauma."Gockstetter said the Sandusky post of the highway patrol is continuing to investigate the crash, but the hospital wouldn't provide any updates on Loftus's condition. The state patrol alleged Sotka was intoxicated at the time of the crash.According to the Ottawa County Municipal Court docket, Sotka was given a breath test, which allegedly showed he consumed alcohol. Sotka appeared for his arraignment Monday in the municipal court and was released from the county jail on bond.More State Highway Patrol articlesReach reporter Michael Harrington at michaelharrington@sanduskyregister.com, follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterRobert Sotka