Tiger's Almost Deadly Crash
The world held its breath awaiting news of Tiger Woods' condition after his horrifying accident in Rancho Polos Verdes near Los Angeles. Was he to be the next sports hero to be tragically lost in recent years?
His car was found mangled and found in thick brush off the side of the road. The area is known for its winding roads and has been known as a trouble spot for speeding cars.
Traffic Camera's Caught Tiger Just Before the Crash
February 23, 2021 was like most mornings. Tiger got up and took off for work. He was seen in the following traffic camera seemingly following the law and driving within the lines.
The police later reported that Tiger was driving pretty fast, but it didn't see that alarming. It was quite common for drivers in this area do drive over the speed limit. But, after he went around this corner, the unthinkable happened.
The Second Camera Saw Him a Little to the Left
The second camera captured Tiger a little to the left and it does appear that he was speeding, but still doesn't seem to reveal that there was anything to be worried about.
During a news conference on Tuesday, L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Woods was traveling northbound on Hawthorne Boulevard at a "relatively greater speed than normal" while descending a steep hill in an area that has a "high frequency of accidents."
Tiger's Crash Was Site Alarming
As Tiger progressed down the road, he apparently lost control and flew off the road. He traveled quite some distance through heavy brush and then ended up pinned inside of his SUV.
The strange thing was that police reported that there were no skid marks in the road and no signs that Woods attempted to brake on the main road. According to a police report, Woods' vehicle hit the center divider, destroyed a wooden "Welcome to Rolling Hills Estates" sign and rolled over several times.
Tiger's Car Was Found Way Off the Road
What investigators have been trying to figure out is how Tiger could fly so far off the road and there was no indication as to how it happened. Could it be that he was trying to avoid another car? A bike? An animal?
As Tiger careened off the road, trees were uprooted and a path carved through a landscape definitely far from car friendly.
Tiger's SUV Is a Complete Wreck
After crossing the two southbound lanes, the SUV hit a curb and a tree before settling several hundred feet from the road. His vehicle narrowly missed hitting a utility pole.
Weather was not a factor and authorities didn't immediately know how fast Woods was driving when he crashed. A police offer shared that he often pulls drivers over in the area because they drive way over the 45 MPH speed limit as they're going down the steep hill.
Tiger Was Seriously Injured
An officer named Gonzalez first arrived at the scene and found Woods struggling to get out of his SUV. Tiger was wearing his seatbelt and was able to communicate clearly. "I spoke to him. I asked him what his name was. He told me his name was Tiger, and at that moment, I immediately recognized him," Gonzalez shared at a news conference.
Gonzalez said Woods was able to answer questions about what day it was and where he was. "Tiger was able to speak to me lucidly," said Gonzalez. "He was incredibly calm." The SUV was lying on its side and responders had to pull Woods from the car through the windshield. It was then that they discovered he was horribly injured.
Tiger's Injuries Were Reported on His Twitter Account
As part of a statement on Woods' official Twitter account, Dr. Anish Mahajan of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center updated the famed golfer's condition, saying in part that Woods had multiple "open fractures" to his lower right leg, and he had a rod placed in his tibia and screws and pins inserted in his foot and ankle during an emergency surgery.
This is a huge blow to Tiger as he will have a long and tough recovery from his injuries. He was already suffering from debilitating back injuries and had undergone a recent surgery.
Tiger's Struggles Have Been Real
The accident made a lot of people ask questions. Could it be that Tiger was under the influence? Had he gone back to his old ways?
Officers at the scene reported there were no immediate indications he was under the influence a substance that rendered him incapable of staying on the road, but tests were needed to make sure.
Tiger Was Doing So Well
It had seemed like lately things were falling into place for Tiger. As pictured here, he was awarded the Medal of Freedom from President Trump in 2019 and began to get his game back to near perfection.
But could it be that something was off again? Was his accident on February 23, 2021 the result of taking his eye off the ball again ?
Tiger's Mugshot After His Arrest in 2017
Back in 2017, Tiger had been arrested on suspicion of a DUI after he crashed his car
Tiger was found by police asleep at the wheel of his Black Mercedes at 2am with the engine running and fresh damage to his vehicle. He failed multiple field sobriety tests and didn’t know where he was but also blew a 0.00 on a breathalyzer after being taken into custody.
Tiger Woods Arrested in 2017
Tiger Woods wasn't drunk when he was found a sleep at the wheel, but he did had Vicodin, Dilaudid, Xanax, Ambien and THC in his system when arrested in 2017.
Photos were taken of Tiger when he was taken into custody in 2017. Things weren't pretty and the world quickly learned that he was struggling.
Tiger's Damaged SUV in 2017
Tiger's SUV was damaged after driving off the road and hitting a tree on the side of the road.
Tiger's team quickly announced after his accident and arrest that he was going to rehab.
Tiger in Court in 2017 for Reckless Driving
Tiger was escorted into court in 2017 by several police officers. His day in court resulted in a lucky moment for the troubled golfer.
Under the plea deal, prosecutors would drop the D.U.I. charge, which is a more severe charge than reckless driving. In the diversion program, Woods will spend a year on probation and pay a $250 fine and court costs.
Tiger Found Love Again and Got Focused After Rehab
The 45-year-old golf legend and a woman named Erica Herman, 44, were first spotted together at the Presidents Cup in 2017.
Woods had previously been linked to Kristin Smith and Lindsey Vonn after splitting from ex-wife Elin Nordegren, who ended their six-year marriage in 2010, in part because of his many affairs — including with Rachel Uchitel.
A Damning Report Was Released About Tiger's 2021 Crash
Could it be that Tiger was backsliding? A damning report was just released that casts further doubt on the circumstances surrounding the recent devastating car crash involving golf icon Tiger Woods in California.
Three forensic experts dealing in vehicles crashes have reportedly concluded that the scary single-vehicle rollover incident was likely the result of driver inattention, according to a report.
Could it be that Tiger fell asleep? Or that he was looking at a cell phone? Or under the influence of something?
Investigations on Tiger's Crash Are Underway
“It’s a drift off the road," Cherney said, "almost like he was either unconscious, suffering from a medical episode, or fell asleep and didn’t wake up until he was off the road and that’s where the brake application came in."
Felix Lee, another expert cited in the report, had similar findings. “My feeling is that speed wasn’t that much of an issue,” Lee said. "It was just some kind of inattention that caused the curb strike.”
Did Tiger Fall Asleep Behind the Wheel?
The experts arrived at the conclusion based on the mostly straight path that Woods' vehicle -- a Genesis SV80 -- took before coming to a rest on its side beside the curved, downhill road on which he was driving.
“To me, this is like a classic case of falling asleep behind the wheel, because the road curves and his vehicle goes straight,” Jonathan Cherney told the outlet.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office Doesn't Agree
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has termed Woods' crash "purely an accident" and suggested that impairment was not a factor, even though test results have not conclusively determined as much.
Reached for comment by USA Today, the sheriff's office said it had not reached any definitive conclusions about the circumstances of the crash. “The traffic collision investigation is ongoing, and traffic investigators have not made any conclusions as to the cause of the collision," the story said.
Tiger Was Headed to Work When He Crashed
Tiger was apparently headed to Rolling Hills Country Club from a nearby resort when he crashed, but ended up at the UCLA Medical Center and rushed into surgery.
But, still expert and investigators are trying to figure out how this horrible accident happened. Was it really just driver error?
Tiger's 2021 Injuries Are Very Serious
As Tiger's doctors went to work to heal him, one of his dearest golf friends made a statement. Justin Thomas made a heartfelt statement that brought tears to many eyes.
"I'm sick to my stomach. You know, it hurts to see one of your -- now one of my closest friends -- get in an accident... Man, I just hope he's all right. Just worry for his kids, you know. I'm sure they're struggling."
Tiger Wood's Girlfriend Visits Him at the Hospital
Tiger's girlfriend has been spending time with him at the hospital but was tightlipped as to how he is doing.
Rumor has it that Tiger is in good spirits and is ready to get healing.
Will Tiger Play Again?
It's hard to know exactly how this accident is going to play into Tiger's future. According to multiple sources Tiger's injuries are horrible. They include open comminuted fractures to his right tibia and fibula.
“Comminuted” means the bones broke in multiple places (as opposed to a simple fracture, where a bone breaks in two). “Open” means those bone fragments pierced the skin.
Some Are Worried Tiger's Career Is Over
The chief of orthopedic trauma at Stanford University and sports injury expert Will Carroll are two of the many with major doubts about whether Tiger will ever return to competition.
His injuries and future as a professional golfer are very uncertain. His doctors have voiced concern over potential damage to his nerves, arteries, and muscles. Only time will tell if Tiger will be able to return to competition.
Tiger Had Big Plans for 2021
Before the accident, Woods said he was hoping to play in the Masters in April. He was hoping to earn his sixth title and make another mark in the history books.
When asked about his ailing back and if he'll be ready to play, Tiger said, "God, I hope so. I've got to get there first.... a lot of it is based on my surgeons and doctors and therapist and making sure I do it correctly. This is the only back I've got; I don't have much more wiggle room left." But, now experts wonder if he will ever return to golf again.
Tiger's 2021 Crash Report Still Pending
The full report from Tiger's crash is still pending. Tiger Woods has no memory of the car accident that shattered his right leg, the Los Angeles county sheriff has reported.
Only time will tell what led to this horrific crash and what it will mean for Tiger's career. Stay tuned.