Venus Williams Won't Face Charges In Fatal Car Crash: Report

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL — Tennis superstar Venus Williams won't face charges in the June 9 car crash that resulted in the death of a 78-year-old man, according to website TMZ. Video of the crash sparked a debate as to whether the tennis star should be held liable in the death of the elderly West Palm Beach man or if she too was a victim. The man’s family is suing Williams for unspecified damages.

As Patch reported previously Palm Beach Gardens police continued to investigate the June 9 accident for months but they believe the surveillance video (watch below) confirmed that Williams “lawfully” entered the intersection on a circular green traffic signal, where her SUV collided with a Hyundai Accent driven by Linda Barson. Barson's husband, Jeremy, who was in the passenger seat, died from his injuries.

Williams can be seen driving past a security guard from a gated community in her Toyota Sequoia SUV at about 6:15 on the video counter (not the time stamp of the security footage). At 6:20, Williams pulls up behind a white vehicle and waits for it to make its way into the intersection before she proceeds.

The Nissan Altima can then be seen crossing from left to right in front of Williams. This is how police believe Williams got caught in the intersection. At 6:44, Williams' SUV can be seen as it is struck by Linda Barson's 2016 Hyundai, which is moving from right to left across the top of the video. Within seconds, the security guard leaves his guard house to call in the accident.

Here’s a sample of the comments that people left after viewing the video on Patch.

“If the truth be told, the victim's wife, Linda, was speeding,” penned Billie Mason. “Stop trying to get paid off of your mistake.”

At least two others agreed with his comment.

Joan IN TO said that Williams appeared to be in the lane to turn left but then changed her mind. “Sad for everyone involved,” she said.

Roxx Bee blamed the driver who turned in front of Williams.

“If Venus had not stopped in the intersection, there would have been an entirely different story, Rox Bee penned. “I have been driving for over 40 years and I know that when you approach a six-lane highway and the light is just turning from red to green, you should slow down to make sure that the intersection is clear before proceeding. Your concern is not just for cars but for people crossing the long intersection.”

Fallen Soldier addressed his comments to 6:33 on the recording.

“First car pulls out left on her as she goes straight,” Fallen Solider penned. “She then stops for the other car to turn left. Two cars turning left and the car in front of her turns left when light first turns green. She went straight on an all-left arrow. Facts are facts clear as day her fault she will lose civil case. ”

James Sode insisted that the law is on the tennis star's side.

“You may enter the intersection as long as any part of the car enters before the light turns red,” he explained. “Once a vehicle is in the intersection, it has the right to clear the intersection. A driver with a green light may not enter the intersection until it is clear. There really is no issue here — Venus enters the intersection and has the right to clear it when the Barsons illegally enter the intersection causing the crash .”

Mobey Dick disagreed.

"You are wrong, it is incumbent that you clear the intersection before the light turns red,” Mobey Dick posted. “Regardless, most traffic signals at high volume intersections have a pattern something like this, 25 seconds green 3 second yellow 2 seconds all red, to avoid situation like this,” Williams entered late. She allowed illegal crossing traffic which she had the right-of-way over to cross her. Williams is at fault!”

Others were quick to disagree.

ILMatt said the video highlighted the need for changes to the traffic light.

“One thing for certain without any debate is, that green light for Venus was green for a very short time, trapping her in the middle of the intersection,” he said.

A number of commenters agreed that the light didn’t stay green long enough.

Dru Bear76 watched the video multiple times.

“I actually looked at this video three times. It appears to me that lady driver had a 10-20 feet gap between cars to actually press her brakes. My condolences goes out to her husband. but Florida is one of those states driving is like where the hell these people get their license."

Watch surveillance video of the accident below:

Surveillance video courtesy of Palm Beach Gardens Police Department. Photo of Venus Williams via Getty Images.