Bodycam footage released Thursday by authorities in Florida shows golf legend Tiger Woods at the scene of a rollover crash in Jupiter Island, where he told deputies he looked down at his phone before the sudden impact with another vehicle.
According to the arrest affidavit, Woods attempted to pass a truck, clipped the vehicle, and his Range Rover flipped onto its side. No one was seriously injured in the incident.
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“I looked down at my phone … and all of a sudden — boom,” Woods said.
The video shows Woods kneeling on the grass, though it’s unclear if he took that position by his own accord or if officers directed him there. The 15-time Major champion insists that he is okay, while one officer says they’ll have medical professionals check him out regardless.
Woods says he was okay with the examination.
Deputies reported observing signs of impairment, including bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, and profuse sweating, while in the back of an air-conditioned vehicle.
Shocking Bodycam Footage Shows Tiger Woods After Florida Rollover Crash
Also seen in the body cam footage is just how narrow the road was that Woods was traveling on and what kind of speed must have been necessary to clip a vehicle on such a road at enough force to flip his own SUV.
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A witness also speaks briefly to officers in the video, as does the driver of the truck and trailer that Woods hit.
The witness says Tiger hit the other vehicle. The driver of the trailer says he was trying to get out of Woods’ way before the accident.
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Woods was charged with driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. A search turned up hydrocodone pills in his pocket, though a breathalyzer test showed no alcohol in his system.
Woods has stated he is stepping away from golf temporarily to prioritize his health and work toward lasting recovery. A judge granted Woods permission to seek treatment abroad as he tries to focus on his health.
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ESPN host Stephen A. Smith has questioned why the billionaire golfer refuses to use a driver and demanded accountability.
“I don’t give a damn about his privacy,” Smith said. “We don’t care right now. You’ve been (behind) the wheel of a vehicle inebriated three times. Ain’t nobody trying to know all your business.”
“What we want to know is that you ain’t going to get behind the wheel of a damn car when you’re inebriated. You’re lucky you didn’t kill somebody, that’s what we want to hear.”
Woods, prior to this incident, had been recovering from multiple back surgeries and was weighing whether to participate in upcoming events, including the Masters.
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Let’s hope he makes a legitimate concerted effort to get his life in order first and foremost.
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