Share and Follow
JUPITER ISLAND, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods was taken into custody on Friday following a car accident in Florida, marking it as at least his fourth traffic-related incident and the second time he faced charges for driving under the influence of substances.
Authorities reported that Woods exhibited signs of impairment when he was apprehended at the scene of the crash, where he collided with another vehicle and overturned his Land Rover near his residence on Jupiter Island. Although a Breathalyzer test returned negative results, Woods declined to perform a urine test. Fortunately, both Woods and the other driver emerged unscathed, according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek.
On Friday, Woods faced charges of driving under the influence resulting in property damage and refusal to comply with a legal test, both classified as misdemeanors.
Let’s revisit some of Woods’ previous vehicular incidents over the years.
The first DUI charge
Back in 2017, Woods was also charged with driving under the influence when police found him asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle in south Florida. The car was running, situated in a traffic lane, and showed damage on the driver’s side.
Woods said he had taken a mix of prescription painkillers and had a bad reaction.
He pleaded guilty to reckless driving in 2017 and agreed to complete a first-time DUI offender program to stay out of jail. He received a year of probation, a small fine and community service.
California crash nearly costs Woods his leg
In February 2021, Woods survived a rollover crash in which his SUV ran off a coastal road in Los Angeles County at a high speed, leading to multiple leg and ankle injuries.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Woods was driving between 84 and 87 miles per hour (135 to 140 kilometers per hour) on a winding road with a speed limit of 45 miles per hour (72 kilometers per hour) when he crashed. No charges were filed.
Doctors said Woods shattered the tibia and fibula bones of his lower right leg in multiple locations. Those injuries were stabilized with a rod in the tibia. Additional injuries to the bones in the foot and ankle required screws and pins.
Woods spent three months immobilized — a makeshift hospital bed was set up in his Florida home — before he could start moving around on crutches and eventually walk on his own. He said the idea of amputating his right leg “was on the table.”
He did not play on the PGA Tour that year but returned to the Masters in 2022.
Fire hydrant collision
Woods ran out of his home in Orlando, Florida, on Nov. 27, 2009, and drove his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and a tree in his neighbor’s yard about 2:30 a.m., authorities said.
That came two days after the National Enquirer published a story alleging Woods had been seeing a New York nightclub hostess, and that they recently were together in Melbourne. The Windermere police chief at the time said officers found Woods lying in the street with his then-wife, Elin Nordegren, hovering over him.
The chief said Nordegren told officers she was in the house when she heard the crash and “came out and broke the back window with a golf club.” Woods had lacerations to his upper and lower lips, and blood in his mouth.