Police investigating Tiger Woods’ serious road crash found the 15-time Major-winner was driving at nearly twice the legal speed limit.
Woods required emergency surgery having sustained serious leg injuries in the February accident in California.
Los Angeles county sheriff Alex Villanueva revealed that Woods was driving at between 84 and 87mph before he left the road, in a 45mph zone.
Villanueva said Woods’ speed was “unsafe for the road conditions”, but no evidence was found of impairment.
According to evidence from the black box recorder of his hired Genesis SUV, Woods was actually accelerating prior to impact, and not braking.
Asked if Woods was conscious prior to impact, Captain Jim Powers told reporters, "We don't know that."
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva discusses the findings of the February car crash involving golf star Tiger Woods. https://t.co/L5ox9OkHyg
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) April 7, 2021
Capt. Powers added, "It’s believed that when you panic or have some sort of sudden interruption when you’re driving, your initial thought is to hit the brake.
"And it’s believed that he may have done that but hit the accelerator and didn’t hit the brake. We don’t know that.
"He doesn’t have any recollection of the incident, and like I said that’s a speculation. There was zero braking throughout the recording of the data recorder, and it’s 99% acceleration on the pedal."
Woods had given permission for police to reveal details of the collision and, in a statement of his own on Wednesday evening, said he's focusing on his recovery and singled out the first responders on the scene for their treatment of him.
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 7, 2021
Tiger Woods statement:
In the last few days, I received word from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department that their investigation regarding my traffic accident back on February 23rd in Los Angeles has been completed and closed.
I am so grateful to both of the good samaritans who came to assist me and called 911.
I am also thankful to the LASD Deputies and LA Firefighter/Paramedics, especially LA Sheriff's Deputy Carlos Gonzalez and LAFD Engine Co. #106 Fire Paramedics Smith and Gimenez, for helping me so expertly at the scene and getting me safely to the hospital.
I will continue to focus on my recovery and family, and thank everyone for the overwhelming support and encouragement I've received throughout this very difficult time.
- Tiger
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