Palm Beach Gardens police say they are investigating the June 9 car crash involving Venus Williams. The passenger in the other vehicle died two weeks later from injuries sustained in the crash.
Police in Florida say tennis star Venus Williams was at fault for a June 9 car crash that led to the death of the passenger in the other vehicle two weeks later.
According to a copy of the police report obtained by ABC, Williams’ 2010 Toyota Sequoia SUV darted into an intersection in Palm Beach Gardens, near her residence. The other driver, identified as Linda Barson, said she could not stop her 2016 Hyundai Accent in time and hit Williams’ car.
Williams told investigators she had entered the six-lane intersection on a green light but had been forced to stop midpoint by traffic ahead of her. She said she did not see the Barsons’ car when she crossed into their lanes.
According to the police report, Williams was at fault for violating the right of way of the other vehicle.
Williams has not been cited or charged. The police report says she was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Palm Beach Gardens police said the crash remains under investigation.
According to TMZ Sports, which first reported the crash, the driver’s husband sustained head trauma in the crash and was taken to a hospital. He died two weeks later. He was identified as 79-year-old Jerome Barson in the police report.
Linda Barson also sustained injuries, her attorney told TMZ Sports.
“This is an unfortunate accident and Venus expresses her deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one, ” Williams’ attorney, Malcolm Cunningham, said in a statement.
Williams is the No. 10 seed at Wimbledon, which begins Monday in England. Her five titles there are among her seven Grand Slam championships total.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
