Police Take Back Their Original Claim That Venus Williams Was At Fault For Fatal Car Crash

July 9, 2017 / Posted by:

As Michael K reported last month, tennis goddess Venus Williams was involved in a fatal car crash in Palm Beach Gardens, FL on June 9. Her SUV was struck in an intersection by a Hyundai Accent driven by one Linda Barson. Linda’s husband Jerome Barson, 78, was a passenger in her car and sustained head injuries from the collision. He died two weeks later in ICU. His family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit again Venus, and police initially blamed Venus for the accident.

Video of the accident taken by a nearby security camera has surfaced. It’s hard to make out, but it looks like one of those messy accidents where no one was really at fault and the legalities of traffic laws will ultimately side with one of them. TMZ posted the video with handy arrows indicating the participants and added slo-mo so we can witness the carnage. *sad face*

The video shows Venus’ black SUV entering the intersection but slows down for a car that turned in front of her. Once the coast is clear, Venus appears to punch it to clear the intersection.

It appears Venus’ light had turned red while she was waiting for the car to pass. The Hyundai then had a green light and was traveling at around 25 MPH in the intersection when it slammed into the SUV.

TMZ opines that it appears that Linda thought Venus wouldn’t try to clear the intersection because she was in full stop to let the car blocking her turn. So she went for it. The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department reviewed the footage. They originally said that Venus was at fault for the crash. They’re now retracting that statement.

After the initial investigation was conducted, new evidence into the incident was located. Video surveillance footage was obtained from a community south of the intersection which recorded the traffic crash. Based on the evidence obtained in the ongoing investigation, it has been determined the vehicle driven by Venus Williams lawfully entered the intersection on a circular green traffic signal, and attempted to travel north through the intersection to BallenIsles Drive. As Williams was traveling through the intersection, a Nissan Altima entered the intersection traveling south, and made a left turn in front of William’s vehicle, causing her to stop advancing through the intersection to avoid a collision. After the Nissan had proceeded past Williams, Williams then started to proceed north through the intersection in accordance with F.S.S. 316.075 (1)(a)1. The vehicle driven by Linda Barson was traveling west on Northlake Blvd, in the outside lane, approaching a steady red traffic signal. The traffic signal then cycled to green, at which time Barson continued westbound and entered the intersection. The front end of Barson’s vehicle collided with the right front of William’s vehicle. This updated information, based upon new evidence, is still under investigation.

Everybody’s lawyers were in court on Friday and both parties agreed to release crash data from their cars. Police have Linda’s data and they will reportedly receive Venus’ within the next 10 days. After that, all the info will be available within 72 hours.

Linda Barson’s legal eagle has released a statement claiming that the video clearly demonstrated that this was all Venus and her tennismobile’s fault.

“The video released by the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department continues to support the fact that Ms. Williams remained in the intersection at a red light, violating the Barson’s right of way. There is nothing that disputes Ms. Williams’ was in the intersection on a red light, and the witnesses clearly confirm the Barsons’ had a green light and lawfully entered the intersection.”

Stay tuned?

Pic: WENN

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