30 Jun 2017

Police investigate Venus Williams after car crash

2:08 pm on 30 June 2017

Police in Florida say tennis star Venus Williams was at fault in a car crash that led to the death of the passenger in the other vehicle two weeks later.

Police allege 37 year old Williams failed to give way to the other vehicle when she entered an intersection.

However Williams's attorney Malcolm Cunningham denies the player was at fault in the accident after media outlets, citing a police report, said she had run a red light.

Venus Williams

Venus Williams in Auckland earlier this year. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

"Ms. Williams entered the intersection on a green light," Cunningham said in a statement about the accident, which happened near Williams' home in Palm Beach Gardens.

Williams, told investigators she had entered the six-lane intersection on a green light but had been forced to stop midpoint by traffic ahead of her.

She said she did not see the other vehicle when she crossed into their lanes.

Williams has not been cited or charged. The police report says she was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Palm Beach Gardens police said the crash remains under investigation.

Cunningham expressed condolences to the man's family and said he had no reason to believe the accident would impact 37-year-old Williams' plans to compete in Wimbledon, which begins next week in England.

"This is an unfortunate accident and Venus expresses her deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one."

"I don't have any information that indicates she is not playing Wimbledon," he said.

Williams is currently ranked number 11 in the world and seeded 10th at the Wimbledon, which she has won five times.

-Reuters