Police Fault Venus Williams in Fatal Florida Car Crash

Though an investigation is ongoing
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 29, 2017 6:39 PM CDT
Updated Jun 30, 2017 12:05 AM CDT
Venus Williams in Car Crash That Killed 78-Year-Old
Venus Williams was involved in a car crash earlier this month in Florida that resulted in the death of a 78-year-old man.   (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, File)

Police say tennis star Venus Williams was at fault in a traffic accident that resulted in the death of a 78-year-old man, TMZ reports, citing a police report from the June 9 incident in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. According to ESPN, Williams told police she was trying to get through an intersection before the light changed. She didn't make it, forced to slow down due to traffic. Her SUV was T-boned by another car entering the intersection.

The driver of the other car told police she didn't have time to slow down. Her passenger, 78-year-old Jerome Barson, suffered head trauma and died at the hospital two weeks later. Police said Williams was at fault for being in the intersection, and an investigation is ongoing. A lawyer for Williams calls it an "unfortunate accident." Williams is seeded 10th at Wimbledon, which starts Monday. (More Venus Williams stories.)

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