Venus Williams at centre of fatal car crash inquiry
As US tennis star prepares for Wimbledon, police say she was at fault
American tennis star Venus Williams is being investigated over a fatal car crash in the US as she prepares to compete at Wimbledon next week.
Police said the five-time SW19 champion, 37, is to blame for the crash that led to the death of Jerome Barson, 78, who was a passenger in his wife’s Hyundai car, according to reports.
The car and Williams’s SUV collided after the athlete went througharedlightinherhome town of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on 9 June, witnesses reportedly told police.
The Hyundai was being driven by Linda Barson. Her husband was taken to intensive care, where he died two weeks later.
Williams’s lawyer said she expressed her “deepest condolences” but that it was an “unfortunate accident”.
She has not been charged over the incident, but Palm Beach Gardens police Major Paul Rogers said the investigation was continuing.
Williams is currently ranked 11th in the world and is among the favourites at Wimbledon, which begins on Monday.
Her representatives did not respond when asked how the incident would affect her appearance at the tournament.
Witnesses reportedly said she was driving a Toyota Sequoia when she went through the red light and into Mrs Barson’s saloon car.
But Williams’s lawyer Malcolm Cunningham disputed that version of events.
“Ms Williams entered the intersection on a green light,” he said. “The police report estimates that Ms Williams was travelling at five miles per hour when Mrs Barson crashed into her.
“This is an unfortunate accident and Venus expresses her deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one.”
Venus Williams, the older sister of reigning Wimbledon champion Serena Williams, has won seven Grand Slam titles, including five at her favourite tournament in London.
She revealed in 2011 that she had been diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease which causes causes sore eyes, dry mouth, arthritis and fatigue.
Her ranking fell outside the top 100 as she coped with her illness, and with injuries, and from 2011 to 2014, she only advanced past the third round at a major once. However, she had a career renaissance, and in January reached the final of the Australian Open, losing to her sister.