Venus Williams is ‘devastated & heartbroken’ following a deadly car accident
Venus Williams, the seven-time Slam champion, has found herself in the middle of a really terrible series of events. Venus and Serena Williams both live in Florida, although I don’t think they live together anymore. In early June, Venus was driving near her home in Palm Beach Gardens when she was involved in a car accident. There are contradictory stories about exactly what happened, but the accident left two people gravely injured, and one of those people, a man named Jerome Barson, died from his injuries after a two-week hospitalization. Sources claim that Venus was “cited” as causing the accident, but from what I can tell, she actually didn’t receive any kind of police citation whatsoever. Mr. Barson’s widow – the driver of the car – is now suing Venus.
A police report says that Venus Williams is responsible for a car accident earlier this month in Florida, which caused injuries to a 78-year-old man who later died. The Palm Beach Gardens Police report states the accident occurred on June 9 in Palm Beach Gardens and the victim, Jerome Barson, was a passenger in a car that was driven by his wife, Linda Barson. The victim’s family has since filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Williams, alleging negligence.
According to the suit, the impact of the crash caused damage to both vehicles. The Barsons’ 2016 Hyundai Accent was “crushed, the front windshield shattered, the airbags deployed, there was crush damage to the rear on the driver’s side, and the back window was shattered.” Williams’ 2010 Toyota Sequoia “was also severely damaged,” the suit says.
The lawsuit states that Jerome Barson’s injuries included “severed main arteries, massive internal bleeding, a fractured spine, and massive internal organ damage.” He was in the ICU when he died on June 22, which, the lawsuit says, was Linda Barson’s 68th birthday. His wife’s injuries included, per the lawsuit, a cracked sternum and shattered right arm. She also broke her right wrist, hand and several fingers. According to the police report, Linda Barson told police she was traveling west in the right lane and approaching an intersection, slowing for a traffic light. According to the report, the light changed to green, and Barson said she drove through the intersection when Williams’ 2010 Toyota Sequoia cut across in front of her car. Linda Barson said she was unable to avoid crashing into Williams.
Williams, according to the report, told police she was stopped in the median of the intersection because of other traffic. Williams also said she did not see the Barsons’ car when she crossed the intersection. The report says Williams was driving an estimated speed of 5 mph.
“(Williams) is at fault for violating the right of way of (the Barsons),” the report said. There is no mention in the report of Williams being cited. Jerome Barson was taken to a hospital and died two weeks later. Barson’s wife was also hospitalized but survived.
“Mrs. Barson is suffering intense grief and doesn’t know how she will go on,” said Michael Steinger, Linda Barson’s attorney. “Her husband of 35 years was struck by Venus Williams, who was at fault in a car accident, which ultimately resulted in Mr. Barson being hospitalized 14 days with multiple surgeries which resulted in his death.”
Williams’ attorney Malcolm Cunningham, in a statement to CNN, said: “Ms. Williams entered the intersection on a green light. The police report estimates that Ms. Williams was traveling at 5 mph when Mrs. Barson crashed into her. Authorities did not issue Ms. Williams with any citations or traffic violations. This is an unfortunate accident and Venus expresses her deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one.”
[From CNN]
It feels like both versions of the accident could have some truth? Like, Venus could have caught a green light or a yellow light and still could have ended up short-stopped in the middle of an intersection because of traffic, and that’s how the Barsons’ car hit her. I don’t like the way outlets keep saying that Venus was “cited” as the one at fault when it sounds like she didn’t receive any police citations at all. It’s an accident, and a deadly one at that. My guess is that Venus and her lawyers are already trying to figure out a way to settle this out of court. Venus did make a personal statement on her Facebook, writing: “I am devastated and heartbroken by this accident. My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Jerome Barson and I continue to keep them in my thoughts and prayers.” She’s still in the draw at Wimbledon and she will be in London for however long she can win.
Photos courtesy of WENN and Pacific Coast News.
Source: Venus Williams is ‘devastated & heartbroken’ following a deadly car accident
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