Venus Williams found herself in a terrible situation when she was involved in a headline-making celebrity car accident on June 9, 2017. The tennis star got into in a collision with Jerome Barson and his wife in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The 78-year-old man died two weeks later after being taken to the ICU with head trauma. The victim’s wife (who suffered broken bones and other injuries) was behind the wheel and approaching an intersection when the tennis pro’s 2010 Toyota Sequoia SUV moved into the intersection at the same time. Police did not press charges, but later, aided by a car accident attorney, Barson’s wife sued Williams for an undisclosed amount.
At the time of the car crash, the driver of the 2016 Hyundai Accent told authorities that she did not have enough time to stop her car from colliding with the side of Williams’ vehicle. Meanwhile, the sports star claimed that she entered the intersection on a green light, but because of traffic, she slowed her car down and therefore couldn’t clear the intersection. Additionally, Williams said she didn’t see the Barsons’ car when she crossed into the lanes.
In December 2017, Palm Beach Gardens Police Department released a statement that based on the findings that it would not be filing charges against the tennis star over her fatal car crash that left one man dead.
At the time, the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department told E! News, “Based upon this investigation and relevant Florida State Statutes, no charges will be filed
A previous police report said that Williams was being held responsible for the accident, with a portion of the report stating, “[Venus] is at fault for violating the right of way of [the other driver].”
An initial police report stated that Williams was being held responsible for the accident, however, a final police report found that neither Serena Williams’ sister nor the Barsons, who t-boned the sports star, violated the other’s right of way.
According to the car crash’s final official report, “This crash occurred on Friday, June 9th,2017, at approximately 1:13 pm…at its intersection with Ballenisles Drive/Steeplechase Drive, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach County, Florida. This was a crash involving two motor vehicles. There were three people involved. Two people were transported to St Mary’s Medical Center, for injuries sustained in the crash, one of whom later died on June 22nd, 2017.” The car wreck report also stated that neither lighting nor weather were a factor in the crash.
On June 30, Williams spoke out on Facebook, writing, “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.”
In October 2017, William’s car accident lawyers claimed that an unidentified individual was operating a dark color sedan type vehicle around the time of the incident. Williams car accident legal team added that moments before the car accident occurred, the unidentified driver “in breach and violation of the duties owed to those on the road, completed an improper left-hand-turn in front and in violation of the right of way of the vehicle operated by Ms. Williams causing her to slow and stop in order to avoid contact.”
The court documents go on to state, “as a direct and proximate result of the negligence and breach of duty by the operator of the sedan, the vehicle operated by Linda A. Barson subsequently impacted the vehicle driven by Ms. Williams.”
On November 15, 2018, with the aid of a car accident attorney, Williams reached a settlement in the 2017 fatal car crash case that left 78-year-old Jerome Barson dead. The legal settlement was filed at a courthouse in West Palm Beach, Fla. The documents did not state the financial stipulations behind the agreement, with the exception that each party would pay its own legal fees and costs.
Like Serena Williams and Jerome Barson’s widow did in Florida, if you or someone you know has had a car accident, contact an experienced auto accident lawyer Washington DC by calling Cohen & Cohen at (202) 955-4529.
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