Venus says she's 'heartbroken' by fatal accident

Hours after it was announced that Venus Williams was being sued by the family of a 78-year-old Florida man who died following an accident involving Williams, the tennis star took to Facebook to express her emotions.

"I am devastated and heartbroken by this accident," she wrote. "My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Jerome Barson and I continue to keep them in my thoughts and prayers." Venus wrote on Facebook.

Williams, who owns a home near the crash site, told investigators her light was green when she entered the six-lane intersection but she got stopped midpoint by traffic and didn't see the Barsons' car before she crossed their lane.Investigators say witnesses and Linda Barson, who was driving, told them Williams' 2010 Toyota Sequoia SUV crossed in front of the Barsons' 2016 Hyundai Accent after the couple's light turned green. The Accent smashed into the side of the Sequoia.

Jerome Barson suffered “severed main arteries, massive internal bleeding, a fractured spine and massive internal organ damage,” according to the lawsuit. He died June 22.

Linda Barson also required hospitalization after she suffered “a cracked sternum, shattered right arm, broken right wrist, hand and fingers,” the lawsuit states.