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Tuesday, January 28
Updated: July 22, 5:45 PM ET
 
Report: Woman, 88, wants James to cover damages

ESPN.com news services

CLEVELAND -- LeBron James hasn't steered completely clear of trouble with his Hummer.

Lebron James
LeBron James, right, gets into a new Hummer outside Warrensville Heights High School on Jan. 11.
On the same day the Ohio High School Athletic Association ruled the purchase of the $50,000 vehicle for James did not violate its amateur rules, an 88-year-old woman filed a police report Monday claiming that James, the nation's top high school basketball player, backed his $50,000 ride into her car.

Iola Winston of Akron said the accident occurred near James' high school while she was stopped in traffic Friday afternoon -- a few hours before James' final home game at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.

Winston said she gave James her phone number after he said he would have the damage to her Dodge Stratus repaired. She was not injured.

Her car later broke down and she had it towed. She waited until Monday night to file the accident report with Akron police.

James' Hummer rolled backward and collided with Winston's car, smashing her hood and radiator, Winston told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. She said James hopped out and walked over to her car. He told her that he didn't see her car there, she said.

"He got my telephone number and said, 'I'll get someone to fix it,' and then he took off," Winston told the Plain Dealer. James had a cell phone, she said, and he appeared to punch in her telephone number. She said James did not provide his number.

James' attorney, Fred Nance, speaking for the player and his family, told the newspaper James wanted to call the police but Winston said, "No, it is not necessary," and instead the two "exchanged contact information."

Winston, who said she was not hurt, drove her car for about two miles until she said it "stopped." She phoned her brother, who called police.

Officers Nicholas P. Jamison and William A. Lagasse were dispatched about 6 p.m., according to the police call report. The report said the "caller and parties were advised" and that Winston declined to file an accident report. Winston's brother, Alfred Bell, said his sister was "really upset."

The car was towed to Spitzer Motors on East Market Street, Winston and Bell said. Winston said she wanted to file a report and police told her they would come back to write up a report if James did not call her.

Initially, the incident was categorized as a "hit and skip" but was later amended to a "traffic accident with no injuries," according to the dispatcher's report.

"But for the fact [LeBron] is who he is, it should be an ordinary fender-bender," Nance told the Plain Dealer.

The police visited James' home at about 6:30 p.m. -- an hour before the start of the player's last home game as a senior. LeBron's mother, Gloria James, was expected to be there for a pregame ceremony honoring her son and the team's other seniors, but she did not arrive.

Winston said Gloria James called her.

"She said I was wrong for not getting the information that I needed," Winston told the newspaper. Winston described her as uncooperative and said Gloria James would not give her phone number.

Winston's son, Henry Jr., said he spoke to Gloria James, who declined to give him her number as well. He said she wanted to know the name of the shop where the car was and requested three estimates on the damage.

Nance said Gloria James was trying to get a police report and plans to turn the matter over to her insurance company.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.





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