Police find tennis starlet Venus Williams at fault in fatal car crash
(Reuters) – Venus Williams, the world`s former top-ranked tennis player, was the driver at fault in a two-car crash in Florida on June nine that killed a passenger in the other vehicle, according to the initial police report on the incident released on Thursday.
News of the fatal wreck near Williams` home in Palm Beach Gardens surfaced in media accounts on Thursday, days before the 37-year-old athlete was planning to rival at Wimbledon, which embarks in England next week.
An accident report filed by the investigating police officer, given to Reuters by the city clerk`s office, said Williams was to blame for failing to yield the right of way to another motorist at a four-way intersection.
The report said the other driver, Linda Barson, 68, had just entered the intersection on a green light when she reported observing Williams` sport utility vehicle «cut across in front» of her and «was incapable to avoid crashing into» Williams.
Another motorist who spotted the accident also told police Barson had a green light when Williams crossed in front of her.
According to the report, Williams told police she drove into the intersection after exiting from another street on a green light, but stopped at the median break to wait for cross-traffic to clear, then proceeded without observing Barson.
«The driver of (Williams` car) is at fault for violating the right of way of», the investigating officer concluded.
Barson`s passenger, identified in the report as Jerome Barson, 78, was taken to a Florida trauma center. He died thirteen days later, according to the Palm Beach county medical examiner.
The police report estimated Williams was traveling at about five miles per hour (8 kph) at the time of influence and was not dissipated or suspected of any drug or alcohol use.
Williams`s attorney, Malcolm Cunningham, did not directly address the accident report`s finding that his client was at fault, but said the tennis starlet was not issued «any citations or traffic violations.»
He voiced condolences to the man`s family and said he had no reason to believe the accident would affect Williams` plans to play at Wimbledon. There was no indication in the report that she was injured.
«This is an unfortunate accident, and Venus voices her deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one,» Cunningham said.
An attorney for the Barson family did not comeback a call seeking comment.
Williams is presently ranked 11th in the world and seeded 10th at the Wimbledon tournament, which she has won five times.
Extra reporting by Bernie Woodall in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Ian Ransom and Paul Tait