The Tiger Woods crash in February was caused by speeding, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.
Woods suffered serious injuries and is recovering in Florida, but will not face any charges.
Woods’ truck was traveling from 84 to 87 mph on a stretch of road downhill on the outskirts of Los Angeles, which had a speed limit of 45 mph, and was going at 75 mph when his car crashed into a tree, he said. bailiff Alex Villanueva.
No traffic fines were issued and there were no signs of disability or distracted driving.
Villanueva blamed the Feb. 23 crash solely on speeding and loss of control of Woods at the wheel. Captain James Powers said there was no evidence that the golfer braked during the crash and that Woods is believed to have stepped on the accelerator without realizing it 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 later issued a statement acknowledging the help he received after the crash.
“I will continue to focus on my recovery and my family, I am grateful for the overwhelming support and encouragement I have received on this difficult journey,” he wrote.
Woods, who is from the Los Angeles area, had returned home to host his PGA Tournament, the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, when the accident occurred.
He was driving a pickup truck that lent him the tournament when he collided with a high average at Rolling Hills Estates, just outside Los Angeles. The van crossed two lanes in the opposite direction and uprooted a tree on a downhill stretch that, according to police, is known for accidents.
Documents show Woods told officers 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 multiple surgeries resulting from serious leg injuries he suffered in the crash. Woods hasn’t spent an entire year without playing, and dates 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 him on March 21st.
“I spent a couple of hours with him, which was nice. It was good to see him,” McIlroy said from 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 you see the accident, you think he’s going to be in a hospital bed for six months. “.
Villanueva had previously said detectives had determined the cause of the crash, but would not disclose it, citing privacy concerns and an alleged need for permission from Woods to divulge information.
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Authorities ruled out that he was under the effects of any substance.
Villanueva faced criticism for weeks for his comments about the accident, which included calling it “purely an accident” and saying there was no evidence of deterioration. Documents show Woods told officers he did not know how the accident happened and that he did not remember driving. .
Detectives searched the data recorder, known as the black box, for the SUV Genesis GV80 2021. However, investigators did not look for a search warrant for Woods’ blood samples, which could be examined. se in search of drugs and alcohol.
This is the third time Woods has been involved in a vehicle investigation.
The most notorious example was when his SUV hit 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 been cheating on his wife with several women. Woods lost significant corporate sponsorships, went to a rehab clinic in Mississippi and did not return to golf for five months.
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Authorities ruled out that he was under the effects of any substance.
In May 2017, Florida police found him asleep behind the wheel of a clumsily parked car 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 his back pain. Woods pleaded guilty to reckless driving and registered at a clinic for help with prescription drugs and a sleep disorder.
The Associated Press contributed to this report