Tiger Woods car accident: Golf great drove at almost double the speed limit before crashing SUV
Even as Tiger Woods is recovering from multiple leg injuries in Florida, is has emerged that the 15-time Masters champion was unable to negotiate a curve while he was driving at more than double the speed limit before crashing his SUV just outside of Los Angeles in February.
In Short
- Woods was driving at close to 87 mph on a stretch that had speed limit of 45 mph
- Woods suffered multiple leg injuries after hsis SUV crashed into a tree in February
- Woods has been recovering in Florida after having been discharged from hospital
Tiger Woods' car accident in February was a result of the golf great driving at almost double the speed limit and failure to negotiate a curve, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Wednesday. Alex Villanuva said that Tiger Woods was driving his Genesis SUV at an estimated 84-87 mph on a stretch of road that had a speed limit of 45 mph.
"The primary cause or factor for this traffic collision was driving at a speed unsafe for the road conditions and inability to negotiate the curve of the roadway," Villanueva said, as quoted by Reuters.
Tiger Woods, a 15-time major champion, sustained severe leg injuries after his SUV struck a raised median, crossed through two oncoming lanes and uprooted a tree before rolling over in Rolling Hills Estates, just outside of Los Angeles in February. Notably, at the time of the car crash Woods was recovering from a back surgery from 2 months earlier.
Woods was discharged from the hospital in March and he has been recovering at his home in Florida. He suffered open leg fractures and injuries to foot and ankle. The 45-year-old has never gone an entire year without playing, dating back to his first PGA Tour event as a 16-year-old.He had hoped to play this year in the Masters tournament, which begins on Thursday.
According to the Associated Press, detectives did not seek search warrants for the athlete's blood samples, which could have been screened for drugs or alcohol, or his cellphone. Sheriff's officials said Woods told deputies that he had not ingested medication or alcohol before the crash.
Authorities said there was no evidence of impairment or of distracted driving, so they didn't have probable cause to get those warrants.