UPDATED:
Williams’ attorney Malcolm Cunningham spoke to TMZ, saying: “Ms. Williams entered the intersection on a green light. 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. This is an unfortunate accident and Venus expresses her deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one.”
Tennis superstar Venus Williams has been found “at fault” in a fatal Florida car accident earlier this month, according to a police report obtained by TMZ Sports.
On June 9, Williams’ SUV “suddenly darted” into a Palm Beach Gardens intersection, per the gossip website. The other driver, the wife of 78-year-old Jerome Barson, T-boned Williams’ car. She told police there was no time to stop.
Mr. Barson suffered head trauma and was taken to a hospital and placed in ICU, where he died two weeks later. Barson’s wife was also taken to the hospital with broken bones and other injuries, per TMZ Sports. Her named attorney, Michael Steinger, did not immediately respond to TheWrap‘s request for comment on the matter. Nor did Williams’ publicist, who her lawyer re-routed us to.
Williams told police she was trying to make it through the intersection, but due to a traffic backup she had to slow down to a crawl, leaving her SUV exposed. Cops deduced Venus had caused the accident.
According to TMZ, the police report said the following: “[Williams] is at fault for violating the right of way of [the other driver].”
It further specified that there was no evidence Venus was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Cops also said there’s no evidence Williams was distracted by an electronic device.