Hit-and-run jams roller derby member with penalty
NORRISTOWN >> Known as “Princess Mean Streak,” a former member of a Hatfield-based women’s roller derby team, has found herself in a jam, facing a penalty in jail for a hit off the rink that left another woman injured.
Maureen Maher, 41, of the 2700 block of Mower Street, Philadelphia, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court on Thursday to 90 days to five years in jail after she pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of accidents involving personal injury and driving under the influence of alcohol in connection with a hitand-run incident involving another driver in Hatfield and a subsequent impact with a sign post in Lower Moreland that occurred on May 21, 2016.
“At the scene, eyewitness identification was clear as the parties were friends and knew one another. But we had corroborative evidence in that the defendant’s novelty license plate with her roller derby nickname was impaled on the back of her friend’s car that she hit, which identified her,” said Assistant District Attorney Roderick Fancher, referring to evidence collected during the investigation.
Judge William R. Carpenter, who accepted a plea agreement in the matter, said Maher can serve her minimum sentence over the course of consecutive weekends. Maher also must complete 60 hours of community service.
An investigation began about 9:30 p.m. when Hatfield police responded to a report of a hit-and-run crash in front of the Rock and Rebel Saloon in the 1900 block of Bethlehem Pike. Upon arrival, police found the victim “writhing in pain” from contusions to her knee and stomach.
The victim reported that the operator of a blue Ford Focus, who fled the scene, struck her Jeep from behind as she was in the southbound turn lane on Bethlehem Pike to enter the parking lot of the saloon, according to the criminal complaint. The victim reported she recognized the striking vehicle as belonging to Maher, a friend and former member of the BuxMont Roller Derby League, according to the arrest affidavit filed by Hatfield Police Officer Keith Blank.
An examination of the rear of the victim’s Jeep revealed that part of the blue striking vehicle “was impaled on the rear driver side tow hook of the Jeep,” and attached to the impaled part was a novelty license plate that read “#23 Princess Mean Streak Buxmont Roller Derby,” Blank alleged.
“Maher’s Buxmont roller derby number was #23 and her nickname is commonly known as ‘Meanie’ or ‘Princess Mean Streak,’” Blank wrote in court papers.
The investigation revealed that the roller derby league had just participated in a bout at the Inline 309 Roller Rink on Bethlehem Pike and that members agreed to meet at the saloon for a postgame after party. League members told police that Maher had been at the skate center prior to the crash.
Maher was arrested about 45 minutes later by Lower Moreland police
“Maher’s Buxmont roller derby number was #23 and her nickname is commonly known as ‘Meanie’ or ‘Princess Mean Streak.’” — Hatfield Police Officer Keith Blank “But we had corroborative evidence in that the defendant’s novelty license plate with her roller derby nickname was impaled on the back of her friend’s car that she hit, which identified her.” — Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Roderick Fancher
who investigated a second incident during which Maher’s vehicle struck a sign post on Welsh Road near Walton Road and became disabled, court papers indicate. Police observed heavy damage to the front of the blue Ford Focus.
When police asked Maher what happened, she allegedly stated, “I have no idea,” according to the second criminal complaint filed by Lower Moreland Police Officer John Herring. Maher did tell police she was driving from the roller derby rink and that she drank two or three beers about two hours before the crash.
Maher had a strong odor of alcohol on her breath and “her speech was slurred and thick tongued,” police alleged. Maher also failed field sobriety tests, showed poor balance and coordination, said police, who charged Maher with DUI at that point.
Subsequent blood tests determined Maher’s bloodalcohol content was 0.228 percent, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent at the time of the Lower Moreland incident, according to court papers.
The DUI incident represented Maher’s second DUI offense, according to court papers.