Venus Williams has spoken out publicly for the first time since her involvement in a car crash that left a 78-year-old man dead, saying that she has been left “heartbroken” by the incident.
According to a police report, the 37-year-old tennis champion was found to be at fault for the crash, which occurred on June 9 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Elderly man Jerome Barsons suffered severe head trauma when a car driven by his wife t-boned Williams’ SUV on an intersection, and died last weekend in an intensive care unit.
His family are now suing Williams for wrongful death, claiming that she failed to yield for right of way when driving through the intersection, despite a red light.
Williams, who has reportedly blamed the crash on “heavy traffic”, took to Facebook over the weekend to make a statement, saying:
“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.”
A police investigation into the incident is ongoing, but Williams does not yet face any criminal charges, and she was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time.
Source: NY Daily News.
Photo: Kommersant Photo / Getty.
