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Franklin Lakes PD: Girls Basketball Coach Left Wheel, Axle After DWI Crash

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. – A Franklin Lakes girls basketball coach known for her community work left the wheel and axle of her car behind after slamming it into a utility pole and destroying a mailbox -- then registered 0.09% on a blood-alcohol test more than two hours later, a police report says.

Maria Harper

Maria Harper

Photo Credit: COURTESY: News 12 New Jersey

Maria Harper was taken into custody at her Forsynthia Court home at 3:43 a.m. Sunday -- more than two hours after the crash on Franklin Lake Road, according to the report, a copy of which was obtained by Daily Voice.

Harper -- whose ex-husband is former NBA star Ron Harper -- "admitted to the accident and was charged with DWI," says the report, prepared by Sgt. Andrew Cacciatore.

The 2016 Infiniti -- driven 1.3 miles without a wheel or axle -- was impounded, the report says.

Harper, meanwhile, was released at 5:20 a.m. to John Blackgrove, the registered owner, who lives at the same address as her, it says.

She was charged with DWI, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident and reckless driving, Capt. John Bakelaar said.

Orange & Rockland told police the pole was left "askew," knocking out power to some area customers, according to the police report.

"Officer on scene reports the vehicles parts, including a wheel and axle, are from a silver Infiniti," it says.

"Roadway gouges were evident 47 feet beyond the utility pole, and scrape marks in the roadway indicated the vehicle drove from the area," the report says.

"The mailbox for 913 Franklin Lake Road was destroyed," it adds.

A high school and Division 1 basketball star, Harper is known for her extensive community work -- including establishing Ring City, North Jersey’s fastest growing regional and national Level AAU Program.

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