Venus Williams settles lawsuit with family of 78-year-old who died in fatal crash
Related Story: Venus breaks down at Wimbledon press conference over car crash question Related Story: Venus Williams sued over fatal car crash
Tennis star Venus Williams has settled a wrongful death lawsuit related to a fatal car crash in Florida last year.
Key points:
- Jerome Barson died 13 days after a crash involving his wife's car and Venus Williams' SUV
- Police previously cleared both Ms Williams and Mrs Barson
- The wrongful death lawsuit was settled last week
Palm Beach County court records show the case was closed last week.
Terms of the agreement between Ms Williams and the estate of Jerome Barson, 78, weren't included in the documents.
Palm Beach Gardens police previously cleared both Ms Williams and Mr Barson's wife, Linda, in the June 9, 2017 crash that injured Mr Barson, who died close to two weeks later.
A police report said an unidentified third vehicle illegally cut off Ms Williams as she tried to cross a busy, six-lane highway near her home, setting off a chain of events that ended with the sedan driven by Ms Barson, 68, slamming into the passenger side of Ms Williams' SUV.
Mr Barson died 13 days after the crash, and his wife suffered a broken arm and other injuries. Ms Williams, 38, was not hurt.
Officer David Dowling, the lead investigator, said in his report that video from a nearby security camera showed Ms Williams legally entering the intersection from a road exiting her gated neighbourhood on a green light.
As she started to cross, a dark sedan cut her off, forcing her to stop.
When the sedan cleared her path, Williams began moving forward in her 2010 Toyota Sequoia, but that put her in the path of the Barsons, who now had the green light.
The Barsons' 2016 Hyundai Accent hit Williams' SUV at 65kph.
Officer Dowling said in his report that state law required Ms Williams to exit the intersection and that even though Ms Barson had the green light, she was obligated to make sure the intersection was clear.
The tennis star broke down when asked about the crash during a press conference at last year's Wimbledon championships in London.
Ms Williams has career on-court earnings of about $55 million, her own clothing line and endorsement deals with Ralph Lauren, Kraft foods, Tide detergent and Wilson sporting goods. She also owns a small percentage of the Miami Dolphins.
Attorneys for Ms Williams and the Barsons did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
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