Tiger Woods arrested for suspicion of DUI in rollover crash in Florida, sheriff says
Golf superstar Tiger Woods was arrested for DUI after he was involved in a rollover crash on Jupiter Island in Florida on Friday afternoon, authorities said.
The crash happened just after 2 p.m. ET, Martin County Sheriff’s Office officials said.
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said Woods was trying to overtake a truck at a high rate of speed when he clipped the back end of the truck and rolled over his Land Rover.
Woods was able to crawl out of the passenger door of the Land Rover and wasn’t injured, Budensiek said. The driver of the truck also wasn’t injured.
But when authorities arrived, Woods appeared to be impaired, Budensiek said.
“They believe from on scene that he was not impaired on alcohol, they believe that it was some type of medication or drug,” Budensiek said. “He was lethargic on scene, but that we believe was because of what he was intoxicated on.”
Woods took a breathalyzer test that didn’t detect alcohol but refused to give a urine sample, the sheriff said.
“We will never get definitive results as to what he was impaired on at the time of the crash,” Budensiek said.
Woods was alone in the vehicle, and no drugs or medication were found inside, Budensiek said.
The sheriff said that Woods was cooperative but “not trying to incriminate himself” and added that he “was careful in what he said and didn’t say.”
The sheriff said Woods will be charged for refusing to take the test and DUI with property damage, which are both misdemeanor charges. He’s expected to remain in jail for at least eight hours until he’s released on bond, Budensiek added.
Woods, 50, is the most accomplished professional golfer of his generation but has been hampered by injuries in recent years and underwent a seventh back surgery last year.
He was seriously injured in a car crash in February 2021 that shattered his right leg and ankle, which Woods has said nearly led to a decision to amputate.
He was also arrested for DUI in Jupiter back in 2017 and later pleaded guilty to reckless driving in the incident.
Woods competed for the first time in more than a year when he played in the TGL final Tuesday night.
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