Venus Williams involved in fatal Palm Beach Gardens crash

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Palm Beach Gardens police are investigating an accident involving tennis star Venus Williams — who is preparing for the Wimbledon tennis tournament in England next week — on June 9 that killed a 78-year-old man, the Palm Beach Post reports.

Williams was found at fault in the crash for violating the right of way on Northlake Boulevard outside the entrance to the Ballenisles Country Club, where Williams has a home, Palm Beach Gardens police reported.

A passenger in the car that struck Williams’ car, Jerome Barson of The Acreage, was rushed to St. Mary’s Medical Center and died two weeks later. His wife, Linda Barson, 68, was driving westbound on Northlake on a green light when she told police Williams’ 2010 Toyota Sequoia cut in front of her.

Williams told police she was leaving the Steeplechase community immediately south of Ballenisles and crossing Northlake when traffic backed up in the Ballenisles entry, forcing her to stop while blocking a lane of Northlake Boulevard.

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The news broke Thursday on the gossip website TMZ. It again puts a Palm Beach County sports icon in the spotlight. Professional golfer Tiger Woods was arrested on a DUI charge on May 29 after Jupiter police say they found the golfing legend asleep behind the wheel of his Mercedes-Benz on Military Trail. Woods admitted to taking prescription drugs.

Police say there was no evidence Williams was under the influence of drugs or alcohol or that she was distracted by an electronic device.

The Barson family referred questions to attorney Michael Steinger, whose firm did not immediately comment.

Neighbors around the Barson home in The Acreage had posted no trespassing signs, apparently in anticipation of questions by reporters. The Barsons appeared to run a business that booked cruises.

The 37-year-old Williams is seeded 10th in her effort to win a sixth Wimbledon title, and is considered a favorite in a tournament missing the presence of little sister Serena, who’s on maternity leave from the WTA Tour. The tournament begins Monday.

Venus Williams is tied for 12th most grand slam titles with seven, winning Wimbledon five times from 2000 to 2008. She won the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001, and has four Olympic gold medals — one in singles at the 2000 games, and three in doubles with Serena in 2000, 2008 and 2012. Serena and Venus have 14 grand slam titles together in doubles play.

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Williams has seen a resurgence in her career in recent years after being diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disease, in August 2011. The diagnosis forced her to withdraw in the middle of the United States Open and kept her off the tour for the rest of the year.

After the diagnosis, Williams won a tournament in Luxembourg in 2012 and then a tournament in Dubai in 2015. She won three titles in 2015, one in 2016, and has consistently made the quarterfinals or better in the four grand slam tournaments—the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.

According to Palm Beach County court records, Williams was cited in 2013 for driving with a suspended license and paid a $163 fine. In 2011 she was cited for failure to provide proof of insurance. She paid a $139 fine in the case.

Barson’s wife has been cited for speeding in Palm Beach County three times between 2004 and 2013, according to court records.

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