Tiger Woods accelerated up to 87 mph – more than 45 mph above the legal limit – before its SUV crashed in southern California in late February, seriously injuring the golf legend’s leg, investigators said Wednesday.
Woods’ vehicle, a 2021 Genesis GV80 SUV, was traveling an estimated 120 mph when it hit a tree and rolled over in the luxury vehicle, citing a data recorder, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The recorder showed that the vehicle was going between 68 and 86.99 mph in some places before Woods was unable to negotiate a curve on the road just outside Los Angeles.
It was at least Wood’s third mysterious car accident.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who adamantly denied that Woods had received favorable treatment during the investigation, said the most recent accident on Feb.23 was the result of 45-year-old Woods driving unsafe given the road conditions.
At a news conference, Villanueva also said there was no evidence that Woods was impaired or drunk at Rolling Hills Estates at the time of the Feb.23 crash.
Investigators didn’t check that Woods was texting before the crash, saying it wasn’t necessary.
They also said they will not issue a quote for Woods, who is recovering at his Florida home. Issuing a reckless driving ticket would require evidence, according to investigators, that Woods committed multiple violations prior to the accident, such as: B. unsafe lane changes or unsafe overtaking maneuvers on other cars.
Woods has no memory of the collision, investigators said at the press conference.
Villanueva said he could only reveal the cause of the crash because Woods agreed to it. According to the sheriff, by law, such accident reports are confidential unless the individuals involved in the incident consent to their disclosure.
“The main cause of this traffic accident was driving at a speed unsafe for the road conditions and the inability to negotiate the curve of the estimated speed of the road in the first impact area was 84 to 87 mph,” said Villanueva.
According to investigators, Woods didn’t brake before crashing the car. They said the data recorder revealed that he may have accidentally stepped on the accelerator instead of the brakes prior to the collision.
“I know there are some who say he somehow received special or preferential treatment that is absolutely wrong,” said Villanueva.
“There was no sign of impairment. Our main concern when we were obviously at the scene of the collision was his, his safety.”
Villanueva said there was no likely cause such as open alcohol containers or signs of narcotics in the car that would have allowed investigators to obtain a search warrant to test Woods’ blood for intoxicants.
In a statement released later on Wednesday, Woods did not apologize for driving nearly double the legal speed limit.
Instead, Woods said he was “so grateful to the two good Samaritans who came to help me and called 911” after his SUV was ready.
“I am also grateful to the LASD MPs and the LA Firefighter / Paramedics, especially the LA Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Gonzalez, and the LAFD Engine Co. # 106, the Fire Paramedics Smith and Gimenez, for being so competent on the spot helped and got me safely to the hospital. “”
“I will continue to focus on my recovery and my family and thank everyone for the overwhelming support and encouragement I have received during this very difficult time,” said Woods.
The golfer, who was alone in the SUV, was trapped in the wreckage that occurred after hitting a mean mean on the road and then raced into the brush and hit just before 7:12 a.m. PT on Feb.23 a tree.
After being freed from the vehicle, Woods was taken to a hospital where he underwent emergency surgery, which a doctor at the time described as “major orthopedic injuries” to his right lower leg.
A rod was introduced to stabilize his tibia and femoral bones, while a “combination of screws and pins” was used to stabilize injuries to the bones of his foot and ankle, according to Woods’ Twitter account.
Woods had stayed at a resort in Rolling Hills after hosting the Genesis Invitational tournament. He stayed in the area filming under a contract with Golf Digest and the Discovery Channel.
Just two days before the crash, Woods was asked during a CBS Sports interview if he would participate in the Masters tournament that begins this Thursday at Augusta National Golf Course in Georgia.
“God I hope so,” he said.
Woods’ epic career of 82 PGA titles and wins at 15 major championships was turned upside down in November 2009 after he crashed another SUV into a fire hydrant outside his then Florida residence.
Woods was knocked unconscious for more than five minutes from this crash. His then-wife Elin Nordegren is said to have used a golf club to break a window and pull it out of the car.
The crash led to weeks of reports that Woods was involved in several extramarital affairs. Shortly afterwards, he entered a clinic for treatment.
In May 2017, Woods was charged with driving under the Florida influence after police discovered him sleeping in a damaged car.
In an apology later, Woods blamed “an unexpected reaction” to a mixture of prescribed drugs for his faint.
“I want the public to know it’s not alcohol,” Woods said at the time.
A month after this arrest, Woods entered a clinic for treatment of problems with prescription pain medication and a sleep disorder.
Woods reportedly used pain medication to get up and move around while recovering from four back surgeries.
In January, Woods announced that he had his fifth microdiscectomy on his back to remove a pressurized disc fragment that caused him pain during December’s PNC championship in Orlando, Florida.
This tournament was the last time he competed.
