Police: Venus Williams at fault in fatal car accident in Florida
A police report released Thursday by authorities in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, says that tennis star Venus Williams caused a car accident on June 9 that led to the death of a 79-year-old passenger in the other vehicle.
Witnesses told officers that Williams ran a red light, and a Hyundai Accent smashed into her Toyota Sequoia. Williams told investigators she entered the intersection when her light turned green, but had to stop because of traffic ahead of her. Williams said she did not see the Accent, driven by Linda Barson, when she crossed into its lane. Barson suffered moderate injuries, and her husband, Jerome Barson, died two weeks later from injuries sustained in the crash. Williams was not hurt.
The accident is under investigation. Williams has not been charged or cited, and police say she was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident. In a statement, Williams' attorney said her client expressed "her deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Mystery boxes: the companies selling lost parcels and suitcases
Under The Radar The 'gamble' on what is inside is 'part of the attraction' for some customers
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Are climate conspiracy theories undermining disaster response?
Today's Big Question Meteorologists and FEMA workers have come under threat
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Pentagon grants ousted LGBTQ vets full benefits
Speed Read The new ruling will apply to more than 820 LGBTQ veterans
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump criminal trial starts with rulings, reminder
Speed Read The first day of his historic trial over hush money payments was mostly focused on jury selection
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Parents of school shooter sentenced to 10-15 years
Speed Read Jennifer and James Crumbley are the first parents to be convicted in a US mass shooting
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Unlicensed dealers and black market guns
Speed Read 68,000 illegally trafficked guns were sold in a five year period, said ATF
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bankman-Fried gets 25 years for fraud
Speed Read Former "crypto king" Sam Bankman-Fried will report to federal prison
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds raid Diddy homes in alleged sex trafficking case
Speed Read Homeland Security raided the properties of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Goon Squad' cops sentenced for torturing 2 Black men
Speed Read The former Mississippi law enforcement officers pleaded guilty last year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Michigan shooter's dad guilty of manslaughter
speed read James Crumbley failed to prevent his son from killing four students at Oxford High School in 2021
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Shooting at Chiefs victory rally kills 1, injures 21
Speed Read Gunfire broke out at the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory parade in Missouri
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published