Venus Williams not at fault in fatal crash, say Florida authorities

Contradicting an earlier police report, authorities say newly obtained video surveillance displays that tennis star Venus Williams legally entered the intersection prior to the fatal accident she was involved in on June 9 in Florida.

Williams was initially determined to be at fault in the accident that eventually killed 78-year-old Jerome Barson, but police in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., have recanted that declaration for now and say the investigation is ongoing.

Police obtained video from a security camera at the gated exit of Williams' neighborhood to make the latest determination. Williams was driving a 2010 Toyota Sequoia SUV and got bottled up in traffic and her vehicle was struck by the 2016 Hyundai Accent driven by Linda Barson, the deceased's wife.

"Based on the evidence obtained in the ongoing investigation, it has been determined 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," the police said in a statement. "As Williams was traveling through the intersection, a Nissan Altima entered the intersection traveling south, and made a left turn in front of Williams' vehicle, causing her to stop advancing through the intersection to avoid a collision.

"The traffic signal then cycled to green, at which time Barson continued westbound and entered the intersection. The front end of Barson's vehicle collided with the right front of Williams' vehicle."

Williams was not injured in the crash.

Linda Barson suffered a cracked sternum, shattered right arm, broken right wrist, hand and fingers, according to an auto negligence lawsuit filed by the estate of Jerome Barson on June 30.

Jerome Barson died of his injuries two weeks after the accident.