He claimed he needed permission from Woods to do so.
Last week, Villanueva said investigators had determined the cause of the crash but would not reveal it. Villanueva faced criticism for labeling the crash an accident before the investigation had concluded and pushed back Wednesday against allegations of special treatment for the golf star. In the days after the crash, the sheriff called it “purely an accident” and said there was no evidence of impairment. But he was actually doing better than that,” McIlroy said Tuesday from the Masters. “When you hear of these things and you look at the car and you see the crash, you think he’s going to be in a hospital bed for six months. Rory McIlroy, a four-time major golf champion who lives near Woods in Florida, said he visited Woods last month and found him to be “in decent spirits.” He had hoped to play this year in the Masters tournament, which begins Thursday. The 45-year-old athlete has never gone an entire year without playing, dating back to his first PGA Tour event as a 16-year-old in high school. He also has screws and pins in his foot and ankle. Woods is in Florida recovering from multiple surgeries, including procedures to repair two broken bones in his lower right leg with a rod in his shinbone. “We still are missing the key factors that kind of explain why or how this whole sequence of events began.”Ĭherney questioned whether Woods may have fallen unconscious at some point, citing the lack of evidence of braking, steering or anything else to suggest the driver was “aware of what’s going on or attempting to avoid the crash.” He also said investigators had enough probable cause to seek blood samples. “To just blanket it with an unsafe speed violation is the easy way out,” said Cherney, who walked the crash site. Jonathan Cherney, an accident reconstruction expert and retired Irvine, California, police detective, said the sheriff did not explain a fundamental part of the case: Why was Woods driving so fast? The SUV crossed through two oncoming lanes and uprooted a tree, striking it at 75 mph (120 kph).
He was driving an SUV loaned to him by the tournament when he struck a raised median in Rolling Hills Estates, just outside Los Angeles. Woods, who is originally from the Los Angeles area, had been back home to host his PGA tournament, the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, when the crash happened. At the time of the wreck, Woods was recovering from a fifth back surgery, which took place two months earlier. “I will continue to focus on my recovery and family, and thank everyone for the overwhelming support and encouragement I’ve received throughout this very difficult time,” Woods wrote.ĭocuments show that Woods told deputies he did not know how the crash occurred and did not remember driving. On Twitter, Woods thanked first responders, as well as the people who called 911. Investigators did search the SUV’s data recorder, known as a black box, which revealed the vehicle’s speed. Authorities said there was no evidence of impairment or of distracted driving, so they did not have probable cause to get warrants. He told deputies that he had not taken medication or consumed alcohol before the crash, sheriff’s officials said.ĭetectives did not seek search warrants for Woods’ blood samples, which could have been screened for drugs or alcohol, or his cellphone. Woods was wearing a seat belt at the time, and the vehicle’s airbags deployed. James Powers, who oversees the sheriff’s station closest to the crash site. There was no evidence that the golfer tried to brake, and investigators believe Woods may have inadvertently stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake pedal in a panic, said sheriff’s Capt. Due to the steepness of the terrain, a runaway truck escape lane is available just beyond where Woods crashed.
#LAST WOOD DRIVER HIT IN COMPETITION DRIVERS#
The stretch of road is known for wrecks and drivers who frequently hit high speeds. No one else was hurt, and no other vehicles were involved. Woods was driving 84 to 87 mph (135 to 140 kph) in an area with a speed limit of 45 mph (72 kph), Villanueva said.
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