The 37-year-old professional tennis player has reportedly been found 'at fault' by police in a fatal car crash that killed a 78-year-old man named Jerome Barson.
- June 30, 2017
AceShowbiz -
Venus Williams was involved in a fatal car crash on June 9, and now police say that she's to be blamed for the accident. The 37-year-old professional tennis player was traveling north in a backed-up intersection in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida when another car heading west crashed into her vehicle.
The driver's husband, a 78-year-old man named Jerome Barson, suffered a traumatic head injury and was taken to a hospital. He never recovered and died in the hospital two weeks later. The woman, meanwhile, suffered several broken bones.
According to police report obtained by TMZ Sports, Williams "is at fault for violating the right of way of [the other driver]." There was no evidence Williams was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to the police. They also say that there's no evidence she was distracted by an electronic device.
Williams' lawyer, Malcolm Cunningham, has released a statement in which the tennis star calls the incident an "unfortunate accident" and expresses her condolences to the family of the deceased. "Ms. Williams entered the intersection on a green light," it reads.
"The police report estimates that Ms. Williams was traveling at 5 mph when Mrs. Barson crashed into her. Authorities did not issue Ms. Williams with any citations or traffic violations," it continues. "This is an unfortunate accident and Venus expresses her deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one."
