Venus Williams Reportedly Sued in Wrongful Death Lawsuit After Fatal Car Crash
Update: On July 8, police amended the initial conclusion and announced they “determined the vehicle driven by Venus Williams lawfully entered the intersection” and that she was not at fault for the accident.
Venus Williams is being sued for cracking traffic laws before a crash earlier this month that led to the death of a 78-year-old man, according to documents obtained by CNN’s Chloe Melas and transcribed by Jill Martin.
Williams was reportedly named in the lawsuit after Jerome Barson died from injuries suffered in the June nine crash in Palm Beach County, Florida, when the car he was a passenger in collided with Williams’ vehicle.
The documents, which were emailed to B/R, allege Venus “negligently operated or maintained the Toyota Sequoia so that she collided with a two thousand sixteen Hyundai Accent that was being operated by Linda Barson and occupied by her spouse, Jerome Barson,” per Martin.
The suit also says Williams failed to yield the right of way, failed to stop at a crimson light, failed to obey a traffic control device, failed to keep a decent lookout, failed to stop for oncoming traffic, was driving too swift for the conditions, drove carelessly and recklessly and was dissipated while driving.
Barson died two weeks after the crash, having sustained a fractured spine as well as organ harm and internal bleeding.
The influence bruised both vehicles, per the suit. The Hyundai was “crushed, the front windshield shattered; the airbags deployed, there was crush harm to the rear on the driver’s side and the back window was shattered.” Williams’ SUV “was also severely bruised.”
TMZ noted a police report stated Williams was to blame for the crash, however her attorney, Malcolm Cunningham, said she was travelling through a green light at only five miles per hour as she entered the intersection.
WPBF’s Ari Hait provided Cunningham’s statement in utter:
An attorney for Venus Williams has released a statement in regards to the fatal accident. @WPBF25News https://t.co/rhV3IjJHUK
The police report stated there was no evidence Williams was under the influence of alcohol or drugs when the crash took place, per TMZ, but Malika Andrews of the Fresh York Times reported witnesses told investigators the light was crimson as Williams entered the intersection.
Williams is seeded 10th in the two thousand seventeen Wimbledon Championship and is scheduled to make her 20th appearance in the competition on Monday.