Tennis pro Venus Williams allegedly 'at fault' in fatal crash

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Tennis star Venus Williams is "at fault" for a Florida car crash that resulted in the death of a 78-year-old man, according to a police report obtained Thursday by AFP.

Williams, 37, slowed in the middle of an intersection when her vehicle was hit by a car driven by the man's 68-year-old wife, the report said.

The accident occurred on June 9 north of Miami in Palm Beach Gardens near her home. The driver's husband suffered a head injury and died two weeks later at the hospital.

Jerome Barson and his wife Linda Barson. /Photo via Facebook

The winner of seven Grand Slam championships was not using her phone and had not taken drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash, police said.

The driver of the other vehicle told police she was approaching an intersection going westbound when Williams' northbound utility vehicle suddenly cut across into the intersection, leaving no time to stop before her car slammed into Williams's vehicle.

Williams told police she was trying to get through the intersection but had slowed to five miles (eight kilometers) per hour due to a traffic jam that left her car blocking the right of way.

Venus Williams during the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris, France, on June 2, 2017. /VCG Photo

The driver's husband suffered head trauma and was hospitalized in intensive care prior to his death, according to the Miami Herald newspaper. His wife went to the hospital with broken bones and other injuries.

"This is an unfortunate accident and Venus expresses her deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one," said Williams's attorney, Malcolm Cunningham, in a statement published by the paper.

Williams is seeded 10th at Wimbledon, the year's third Grand Slam tennis event that begins Monday in England.

No charges have been filed, although Palm Beach Gardens police said the crash is under investigation.

(Source: AFP)

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