The Martin County Sheriff’s Office released more details about Tiger Woods’ recent DUI arrest Tuesday morning, providing a glimpse into Woods’ description of the collision and how police approached him this afternoon.
According to a probable cause affidavit, obtained by GOLF.com, Woods said he was coming toward them, looking down at his phone and changing the radio station when the accident happened. He did not notice that the truck in front of him was slowly turning into the road. Woods crossed the hard line twice (no passing) to pass the truck and the trailer it was pulling, clipping the rear of the trailer, flipping his car onto the driver’s side and skidding to a stop.
After investigating the crash, Martin County Sheriff’s Deputy Tatiana Levenar observed Woods “sweating profusely,” and although he was “tired and walking slowly,” he was alert throughout the investigation. Levenar said Woods limped but tripped. He explained to Levenar that he has had seven back surgeries and “more than twenty surgeries” on his leg, which was covered in a compression sleeve. Woods said his ankle “seizes” when he walks.
During the search, two white pills were found in Woods’ left pants pocket, marked as Hydrocodone, an opioid commonly used to treat pain. Woods announced that he did not drink alcohol, or any illegal substances, but admitted that he was taking “a few” types of medication and that he had taken the prescribed medication that morning. Many drugs have been reproduced in the report. Woods was considered “talkative” and had hiccups throughout.
Tiger Woods’ recent car accident returns to a similar fate
By:
Michael Bamberger
Levenar subjected Woods to numerous sobriety tests, the affidavit stated. One of those tests was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, a test in which Woods was asked to follow the tip of a pen with his eyes as it changed position in front of his face. Sheriff’s Deputy Tatiana Levenar said Woods’ eyes were “red and glassy” and that his pupils were “wide open” and that there was “no rush” in either eye. Woods moved his head to the side, the report said, despite being told to keep his head straight multiple times.
He performed the “Finger to ese,” “Palm Pat” and “hand contact” tests, with varying degrees of success and failure, after which Levenar reported that he believed Woods’ “normal abilities were impaired and he was unable to operate the vehicle safely.” Shortly after 3 pm local time, Woods was arrested.
That afternoon, Woods submitted to a breathalyzer test, which came back twice with zero signs of alcohol. He refused to submit to a urine test, which is his right but he is filing a misdemeanor charge in the state of Florida. He was also transported at one point to a local ER where he refused all treatment. He then spent at least eight hours in jail before being released on bond at midnight. He was charged with “Driving Under the Influence with Property Damage and Refusal to Submit to Blood Alcohol test” and his court date is scheduled for April 23 at 8:30 a.m. The entire encounter with Woods was caught on camera, according to the affidavit. He has not said anything publicly following his arrest.
Woods has a history of traffic accidents. In May 2017, he was arrested for DUI early in the morning in Jupiter, Fla., when local authorities found him asleep at the wheel. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department released a report that identified five different drugs in Woods’ system, but no trace of alcohol.
In February 2021, Woods was involved in an accident in southern California around 07:00 but did not show “signs of impairment,” according to local authorities. He suffered a serious back injury that day which made it difficult for him to compete in previous years.
