The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has issued a search warrant for data from the “black box” of the Tiger Woods SUV he was driving when it crashed last week, CBS News confirmed. The story was first reported by USA Today.
The deputy spokesman of the department, James Nagao, did not say more about the investigation of the overturning accident in which the Gulf legend suffered serious injuries to his leg, ankle and foot, which required a long-term surgery.
In order to obtain a warrant for the black box, USA Today pointed out, investigators must establish that there is a probable cause that a crime was involved, even if it is only a misdemeanor.
But, the newspaper said, a sheriff’s deputy “downplayed the warrant as a regular part of their investigation. He said he did not consider it a criminal investigation, but rather due diligence.”
In this regard, Deputy Sheriff John Schloegl told USA Today: “We need to rebuild the traffic collision, if there was reckless driving, if someone was on a cell phone or something. We’re determining if there was a murder. If there was no crime, we will close the case and there was a regular road collision. “
USA Today also reported that the department has decided it will not seek a warrant for Woods’ blood because it is trying to find out if he was “under the influence of drugs” at the time.
Schloegl said there was “no probable cause” to obtain such a warrant.
CBS news
The day after the crash, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva told a news conference, “We don’t consider any charges in this crash.”
While driving around a curve on the road, Woods’ vehicle hit the median and crossed oncoming traffic, Villanueva said. The SUV then hit the curb and began to roll before stopping in an embankment about 30 meters away from the road.
Villanueva said Woods, 45, could still be charged with driving offenses based on what the road investigation reveals, but said he did not expect a reckless driving charge, a misdemeanor offense.
Brian Rothmuller / Icon Sportswire by Getty
He had said earlier that there were no initial signs that Woods had been affected.
Woods’ SUV – a 2021 Genesis GV80 – was the only vehicle involved in the crash. Photos and videos from the scene showed significant damage to the front of the vehicle. Golf clubs and other personal items were taken from the scene and a crane later removed the crumpled SUV.
Doctors told CBS News that Woods is expected to walk again, but health experts said the injuries will definitely affect his game.
– Brian Dakss, Zoe Christen Jones, Justin Carissimo and Jordan Freiman contributed to the reporting of this article.