Join today and you can easily save your favourite articles, join in the conversation and comment, plus select which news your want direct to your inbox.
Join today and you can easily save your favourite articles, join in the conversation and comment, plus select which news your want direct to your inbox.
Tennis star Venus Williams said she was heartbroken by the death of a man in a two-car crash in Florida that a police report blamed on her driving, breaking her silence about the fatal accident three weeks after it occurred.
Williams posted the message on her Facebook page on Friday, the day after Palm Beach Gardens police released a preliminary report saying she was the driver at fault in a June 9 accident that left Jerome Barson, a 78-year-old passenger in the other car, with fatal injuries.
A police report has said that the former top-ranked tennis player was at fault in a two-car crash in Florida on June 9, where the passenger in the other vehicle was killed.
Hong Kong gears up for 20th anniversary of handover
Pro-democracy campaigners prepare to protest as Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Hong Kong for the 20th anniversary of the city's return to Chinese rule.
Police say a former employee of a New York City hospital opened fire with an assault rifle inside the building, killing one doctor and wounding six other people before killing himself.
A police report has said that the former top-ranked tennis player was at fault in a two-car crash in Florida on June 9, where the passenger in the other vehicle was killed.
"I am devasted (sic) and heartbroken by this accident," wrote Williams, the world's former top-ranked female tennis player. "My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Jerome Barson and I continue to keep them in my thoughts and prayers."
News of the fatal wreck near her home in Palm Beach Gardens surfaced in media accounts on Thursday, days before the 37-year-old athlete was planning to compete at Wimbledon, which begins in England next week.
'Heartbroken': Venus Williams was involved in a fatal car crash in Florida. Photo: Getty Images
After the crash, Barson was taken to a Florida trauma centre where he died 13 days later, according to the Palm Beach county medical examiner.
The police report estimated Williams was travelling at about 8kmh at the time of impact and was not distracted or suspected of any drug or alcohol use.
Advertisement
Williams's attorney, Malcolm Cunningham, did not directly address the accident report's finding that his client was at fault, but said the tennis star was not issued "any citations or traffic violations."
You will now receive updates fromSport Newsletter
Sport Newsletter
Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox.