'The vehicle driven by Venus Williams lawfully entered the intersection on a circular green traffic signal,' police said in a statement exonerating Venus following the release of the video.
- Jul 8, 2017
AceShowbiz - Palm Beach Gardens Police Department unveiled a surveillance video which cleared out the doubt against Venus Williams. The video showed that the tennis star drove her black SUV lawfully before the fatal car crash on June 9 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
In the video, Venus' 2010 Toyota Sequoia could be seen entering the intersection under a green light. However, she later slowed down for a car which turned in front of her, before continuing after the coast was clear.
It turned out that the traffic light had turned red while she paused midway. Shortly after she started to proceed, her car was struck by a 2016 Hyundai sedan driven by Linda Barson and his 78-year-old husband Jerome, who later died on June 22 from injuries suffered in the crash.
Previously, Venus was declared "at fault for violating the right of way," though it was all cleared up thanks to the video. "The vehicle driven by Venus Williams lawfully entered the intersection on a circular green traffic signal, and attempted to travel north through the intersection to Ballenisles Drive," police released a statement exonerating Venus.
The police further explained that Venus stopped advancing since there was a car entering the intersection and made a left turn. The crash occurred when Venus started to legally proceed.
"The update from the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department and video released today show that Venus lawfully entered the intersection on a green light and was impeded in her progress through the intersection," Venus' attorney, Malcom Cunningham, said in a statement. "As the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department points out, once Ms. Williams entered the intersection lawfully, she had the right to proceed through the intersection and other vehicles including those with a red light changing to green, were obligated to yield the right-of-way to Ms. Williams."
"Ms. Williams is grateful for the continued diligence and efforts of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department in its investigation," the statement continued. "At the same time, as this process moves forward, she remains deeply saddened by the loss suffered by the Barson family and continues to keep them in her thoughts and prayers."
However, the Barsons' attorney, Michael Steinger, insisted that Venus violated his client's right of way. "The video released by the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department continues to support the fact that Ms. Williams remained in the intersection at a red light, violating the Barson's right of way. There is nothing that disputes Ms. Williams' was in the intersection on a red light, and the witnesses clearly confirm the Barsons' had a green light and lawfully entered the intersection," the attorney said.
The Barson family filed a wrongful death suit against the Grand Slam winner, claiming she was speeding and negligent. The attorneys agreed at a Friday, July 7 court hearing to exchange data downloaded from the onboard computer systems in their respective clients' cars. Both vehicles will remain in police custody until the process is complete.
