Harare, Zimbabwe (News of the South) – Venus Williams is fighting a wrongful death lawsuit against her following a crash which killed an elderly man by claiming the victim wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.
Jerome Barson, 78, was critically injured in the smash in Florida on June 9.
Wife Linda Barson, who was driving the vehicle, suffered broken bones when her car hit Williams’.
A police report initially blamed the former Wimbledon champion for the crash claiming she did not have right of way.
Mrs Barson told police she was approaching the crossroads in Palm Beach when Williams’ SUV darted into her path.
On June 30, the family announced plans to sue Williams for wrongful death.
However, earlier this month, police released footage of the crash and confirmed Williams “lawfully entered” the junction.
Court documents, show Williams denies responsibility for Mr Barson’s death, claiming he failed to keep himself safe.
She says the victim was not wearing a seatbelt and had failed to keep the vehicle in a safe condition.
The documents show the tennis ace is claiming that “the injuries and/or damages to [Barson] were solely and/or proximately caused by the unreasonable failure of [Barson] to use an available and operation seat belt at the time of the accident.”
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