Venus Williams Denies Fatal Car Crash Responsibility
Embattled professional tennis player Venus Williams is claiming that it was not really her who was responsible for the fatality in the car crash she got into last month. Instead, she’s putting the blame on the elderly couple who was involved in the accident.
On Wednesday, Entertainment Tonight disclosed that it has obtained court documents related to Williams’ case. Based on the files, Williams is claiming that Linda Barson and her late husband Jerome were the ones at fault in the situation. The 37-year-old athlete alleges that the injuries the two sustained were the direct result of their own “negligence and/or assumed risk.”
Williams maintains in the documents that Jerome obtained fatal injuries because of his own failure “to use an available and operational seat belt at the time of the accident.” Also stated in the files is Williams’ claim that the vehicle the couple was driving was not maintained to legal standards.
READ: Venus Williams’ phone, medical records demanded by Barson’s lawyer
The tennis player’s camp went as far as saying that no money should be awarded in damages to Linda for she did not obtain “a permanent injury, scarring, disfigurement, or other sufficient injury” — conditions required by the Florida law. However, Barson has previously claimed that she cracked her sternum and suffered serious injuries in her right arm, wrist, hand and fingers, as pointed out by TMZ.
The court documents also indicated that the Wimbledon finalist is calling out the drivers at the intersection that day. She stated that the “third parties” or the other cars at the scene contributed to the hectic intersection, which led to the car crash. For Williams, the drivers of the said cars are equally responsible.
The statements are Williams’ responses to the lawsuit that was filed against her by the estate of the deceased after the crash that took place in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida on June 9. There have been conflicting reports as to what really transpired that day, but surveillance footage shows Williams’ SUV getting T-boned by the Barsons’ car.
READ: Venus Williams files for emergency court order following crash
Late last month, Williams’ attorney, Malcolm Cunningham, issued a statement saying that Williams entered the intersection at an appropriate time. “Ms. Williams entered the intersection on a green light. The police report estimates that Ms. Williams was traveling at 5 miles per hour when Mrs. Barson crashed into her. Authorities did not issue Ms. Williams with any citations or traffic violations,” the statement read.
Venus Williams is denying responsibility over the fatal car crash she got into last month. Pictured: The professional U.S. tennis player at the Ladies Singles final against Garbine Muguruza of Spain on day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon in London, England on July 15, 2017. Photo: Getty Images/Michael Steele
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