PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA ¨C Venus Williams, the world¡¯s former top-ranked tennis player, was the driver at fault in a two-car crash in Florida on June 9 that killed a passenger in the other vehicle, according to the initial police report on the incident released Thursday.
News of the fatal wreck near Williams¡¯ home in Palm Beach Gardens surfaced in media accounts Thursday, days before the 37-year-old athlete was planning to compete at Wimbledon, which begins 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 seeing Williams¡¯ sport utility vehicle ¡°cut across in front¡± of her and ¡°was unable to avoid crashing into¡± Williams.
Another motorist who saw 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 seeing 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 13 days later, according to the Palm Beach county medical examiner.
The police report estimated Williams was traveling at about 5 mph (8 kph) at the time of impact and was not distracted or suspected of any drug or alcohol use.
Williams¡¯ attorney, Malcolm Cunningham, did not directly address the accident report¡¯s finding that his client was at fault, but said the tennis star was not issued ¡°any citations or traffic violations.¡±
He expressed 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 expresses her deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one,¡± Cunningham said.
An attorney for the Barson family did not return a call seeking comment.
Williams is currently ranked 11th in the world and seeded 10th at the Wimbledon tournament, which she has won five times.
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