The Manila Times

Venus Williams cleared in fatal Florida crash

- AFP

LOS ANGELES: American tennis star Venus Williams will not be charged in a fatal two car smash in June that killed a passenger in the other car, according to the US media quoting the Florida police.

Police concluded neither driver was at fault and no charges would be filed in the collision which took place in a busy intersecti­on in Palm Beach Gardens, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel newspaper reported on Thursday.

“Based upon this investigat­ion and relevant Florida state statutes, no charges will be filed in this case,” according to an 18- page traffic homicide investigat­ion released by Palm Beach Gardens police.

The police said an unidentifi­ed third car cut Williams off as she tried to cross a sixlane highway. That sparked a series of events that ended with a Hyundai sedan, driven by Linda Barson, running into the passenger side of Williams’ SUV which was stopped in the intersecti­on.

Barson drove into the intersecti­on when the light turned green, striking Williams’ vehicle.

Both Williams and Barson, were not injured but Barson’s husband, Jerome, died 13 days after the smash.

“The unknown dark-colored vehicle ... started a sequence of events resulting in (Barson) crashing into (Williams),” the police report said.

Barson’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Williams.

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