MIDDLETOWN - A township police sergeant has been suspended and faces criminal charges in New York after police there said the officer was driving drunk when he struck and injured a motorcyclist and then drove away.

New York State Police said Carl F. Roth, 49, of Middletown, struck motorcyclist Eric Gauthier, 49, of Saint-Lin-Laurentides in Quebec, Canada. Police said their vehicles collided at State Route 23 and County Road 17 in Ashland on July 13 and Roth left the scene — but dropped a telltale license plate.

The crash left Gauthier lying in a ditch with a broken leg, New York State Police said. A Greene County Sheriff's Office deputy found Roth in another nearby town, Lexington, the front end of his Mercedes heavily damaged.

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Roth's car matched the license plate left at the scene of the collision, said Trooper Steven Nevel, a spokesman for New York State Police.

Roth is facing charges of vehicular assault and leaving the scene of an accident involving an injury — both felonies — as well as driving while intoxicated, refusing a breath test, failure to observe a stop sign and improper moving from a lane.

Gauthier was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.

Detective Lt. Paul Bailey, a spokesman for township police, confirmed that police Chief Craig Weber had suspended Roth without pay.

Bailey told the Asbury Park Press in a phone interview that the department is "aware of the very serious nature of the charges" against Roth and they "are giving it the proper consideration."

Roth was promoted to sergeant on Jan. 19, 2016, according to minutes from a Township Committee meeting that evening. State pension records listed his most recent annual salary as $130,375. He has worked for the police department since 1999.

New York State Police said Roth was scheduled for arraignment in town court in Ashland on July 17. Court officials were not immediately available to provide his next court appointment. Roth was not listed as an inmate at any New York state prison or county jail.

Roth was not immediately available for comment. It is unclear if he has an attorney.

Alex N. Gecan has covered crime in New Jersey since 2016. His work as a reporter and editor has earned him professional awards in Connecticut, Louisiana and New Jersey for public service, business reporting and features. Contact him at agecan@gannettnj.com or 732-643-4043 or follow him on Twitter @GeeksterTweets.