Tiger Woods’ accident in February was caused by speeding, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.
Woods was seriously injured and is recovering in Florida, but will not be charged.
Woods’ truck was traveling between 84 and 87 mph on a stretch of highway outside of Los Angeles, which had a speed limit of 45 mph and was traveling at 75 mph when his car hit a tree, the sheriff said. Alex Villanueva.
No traffic tickets were issued and there were no signs of disability or distracted driving.
Villanueva blamed the February 23 accident only for Woods’ excessive speed and loss of control at the wheel. Captain James Powers said there was no evidence that the golfer braked during the crash and that Woods was believed to have accidentally stepped on gasoline instead of the brake pedal.
Villanueva said Woods and his representatives cooperated during the investigation and gave permission to share the findings.
– Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 7, 2021
Woods subsequently issued a statement acknowledging the aid received after the accident.
“I will continue to focus on my recovery and my family, I am grateful for the overwhelming support and encouragement I received on this difficult journey,” he wrote.
Woods, who is from the Los Angeles area, returned home to host his PGA Tour, Genesis Invitational at the Riviera Country Club, when the accident occurred.
He was driving a truck that lent him the tour when he hit a high median in the Rolling Hills Estates, outside of Los Angeles. The truck crossed two lanes in the opposite direction and uprooted a tree on a downhill section, which police say is notorious for accidents.
The documents show that Woods told the deputies that he did not know how the accident happened and that he did not remember driving. At the time of the accident, Woods was recovering from a fifth back surgery, which took place two months earlier.
Woods is in Florida, recovering from several surgeries resulting from serious leg injuries from the accident. Woods never went a full year without playing, dating back to his first PGA Tour event when he was 16 in high school.
Rory McIlroy, a four-time major golf champion who lives near Woods, said he visited her on March 21.
“I spent a few hours with him, which was nice. It was good to see him,” McIlroy said at the Masters on Tuesday. “It was good to see him in a good mood. When you hear about these things and you look at the car and see the accident, you think he’s going to be in a hospital bed for six months. But he’s actually doing better than that. . “
Villanueva previously said detectives had determined the cause of the crash, but did not reveal it, citing privacy concerns and the alleged need for Woods’ permission to release information.
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The authorities ruled out that it was under the influence of any substance.
Villanueva faced criticism for weeks for his comments about the accident, which included calling it “simply an accident” and saying there was no evidence of damage. The documents show that Woods told the deputies that he did not know how the accident happened and that he did not remember driving. .
Detectives searched the data logger, known as the black box, of the Genesis GV80 2021 SUV. Investigators did not request a warrant to search for Woods’ blood samples, which could be tested for drugs and alcohol.
This is the third time Woods has been involved in a vehicle investigation.
The most egregious example was when his SUV ran over a fire hydrant and crashed into a tree early in the morning after Thanksgiving, in 2009. This accident was the beginning of shocking revelations that he had cheated on his wife. with more women. Woods lost significant corporate sponsorships, went to a detox clinic in Mississippi and did not return to golf for five months.
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The authorities ruled out that it was under the influence of any substance.
In May 2017, Florida police found him asleep behind the wheel of a car parked awkwardly on the side of the road. He was arrested on a DUI charge and later said he had an unexpected reaction to prescription drugs for back pain. Woods pleaded guilty to reckless driving and checked into a clinic for help with prescription drugs and a sleep disorder.
The Associated Press contributed to this report