Tiger Woods is charged with DUI after vehicle rollover in Florida
Tiger Woods is charged with DUI after vehicle rollover in Florida
Tiger Woods, a prominent golfer, was detained and accused of DUI on Friday following a rollover accident in Florida, according to state officials. The incident occurred just before 2 p.m. on Jupiter Island, as reported by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
The truck’s operator recounted to investigators that he was maneuvering into a driveway on a two-lane road when he noticed Woods driving “at high speeds” in his rearview mirror, per officials Friday evening. As the truck driver attempted to exit the roadway, the Land Rover “overtaking” the vehicle at the last moment, swerved to avoid collision but ultimately struck the trailer’s rear.
“He was driving at high speeds,” the truck driver told officials.
Woods’ SUV flipped onto the driver’s side door. The golfer exited through a window, authorities stated. Neither Woods nor the truck driver sustained injuries. Law enforcement officers suspected impairment, leading Woods to submit to a breath test but decline a urine sample.
He informed officers he had taken medication for previous injuries, officials added. Woods was arrested at the scene and transported to a local jail. By midnight, he was released. Departure images show him grimacing in the passenger seat of a black SUV as it navigated a crowd of paparazzi.
Previous Crash in 2021
In 2021, Woods sustained severe injuries during a rollover accident in Rolling Hills Estates, California. He was traveling at speeds exceeding the 45 mph limit when his Genesis GV80 SUV collided with a tree, leading to the car flipping onto its side. At the time, authorities found no indications of impairment, though this raised some controversy.
The probe faced criticism as investigators did not secure a search warrant for Woods’ blood samples, which might have revealed alcohol or drug presence. Unlike the recent incident, Woods was not charged in that 2021 crash.
Legal Proceedings and Background
Woods had previously visited a clinic for prescription medication after being arrested for DUI in Florida that same year. His team, Jupiter Links Golf Club, recently lost a match against Los Angeles Golf Club in the finals of the Tomorrow’s Golf League on Tuesday.
Minyvonne Burke is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. Alicia Victoria Lozano is a California-based reporter for NBC News focusing on climate change, wildfires, and the evolving politics of drug laws. Matt Lavietes is a reporter for NBC News.