Authorities say a 57-year-old Willoughby man is facing serious charges after he allegedly drove drunk in a downtown parking lot, struck a woman outside a tavern, and trapped her beneath an SUV. Court records identify the woman as Reagan Curtner, who was later pronounced dead, according to police logs and charging documents. Investigators say the driver stayed at the scene and was taken into custody.
Charges And Court Proceedings
According to Cleveland.com, prosecutors have charged Thomas P. Cordiak with two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, classified as second-degree felonies, along with two misdemeanor counts of operating a vehicle under the influence. A Willoughby Municipal Court magistrate set bond at $250,000, and court records show Cordiak has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor OVI counts.
Arrest And Booking
Online booking records indicate Cordiak was booked into the Lake County jail on July 11. The public jail entry lists aggravated vehicular homicide among the charges and gives his age as 57. That booking information lines up with reporting that he remained at the scene and was taken into custody, according to the public entry on RecentlyBooked.
What Police Say Happened
Investigators say the crash took place in the parking lot of a Willoughby tavern on Lakeshore Boulevard. Dispatch logs show officers were sent out shortly before 11 p.m., and responding officers found Curtner unresponsive. Court documents and the criminal complaint, as reported by Cleveland.com, allege that Cordiak was driving a black 2019 Chevrolet Equinox when it struck Curtner and left her trapped underneath the SUV.
How Ohio Treats OVI-Related Deaths
Under Ohio law, causing someone’s death while committing an OVI offense can be charged as aggravated vehicular homicide. In cases tied to OVI, the offense is typically treated as a felony of the second degree, which carries mandatory prison time and a driver’s license suspension. The Ohio Revised Code also allows for substantial fines and enhanced penalties in certain circumstances. The full statutory language is available in Ohio Revised Code §2903.06.
What Comes Next In Court
Cordiak is scheduled to return to Willoughby Municipal Court for further proceedings. That court handles initial hearings and bond matters before deciding whether to send felony cases to Lake County’s common pleas court. According to the municipal court’s public information, arraignments and preliminary hearings are the first steps for criminal cases that start in the city, and the case docket will determine whether prosecutors move the felony counts forward in the higher court.
