The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has executed a search warrant to obtain data from the so-called “black box” on the SUV driven by Tiger Woods when it crashed last week, according to several reports.
In order to obtain a warrant, the probable cause of the offense was involved, even if it is only a misdemeanor. A sheriff’s deputy downplayed his routine at USA Today Sports on Tuesday, saying he considered it due diligence.
“We are trying to determine if a crime was committed,” said Deputy Sheriff John Schloegl. “If someone is involved in a traffic collision, we have to reconstitute the traffic collision, if there was reckless driving, if someone was on a mobile phone or something like that. We determine if there was a crime. If there was no crime , we are closing the case and there was a regular traffic collision. “
The data in the black box can show the speed, steering angle, acceleration and braking activity of the vehicle.
“When it comes to getting a warrant or getting out of the car, we do it automatically,” Schloegl told USA Today Sports. “We want answers, so this is the path we are taking.”
Schloegl also said there was “no probable cause” for a warrant to obtain Woods’ blood, which would help determine if he was under the influence of drugs.
He said Woods’ camp was cooperative.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said last week that the crash was “simply an accident” and that his department will not file charges against Woods in connection with the Feb. 23 car crash near the Rolling Range. Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes, about 30 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.
Villanueva said the department considers it an accident, which could lead to a crime at most.
“The sheriff spoke about the information known at the time and said it appeared to be a traffic accident,” the sheriff’s department said Tuesday in a statement to USA Today Sports. “However, the road collision investigation is (ongoing) and traffic investigators have not drawn any conclusions about the cause of the collision.”
Woods, 45, is returning to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was moved from Harbor-UCLA Medical Center “for continued orthopedic care and recovery,” according to Dr. Anish Mahajan.