Tiger Woods is charged with DUI after vehicle rollover in Florida
Tiger Woods is charged with DUI after vehicle rollover in Florida
Tiger Woods, the renowned golf icon, was taken into custody and cited for driving under the influence on Friday afternoon following a rollover incident in Jupiter Island, Florida, according to local authorities. The accident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. and involved a dark Land Rover colliding with a truck towing a trailer. No injuries were reported in the crash, though both vehicles sustained damage.
Authorities stated that the truck driver observed Woods approaching the scene at “high speeds” while attempting to merge into a driveway off a two-lane road. When the truck’s driver tried to adjust his course, the Land Rover unexpectedly overtook him, swerved to prevent a collision, and ultimately struck the trailer’s rear. Woods’ SUV flipped onto its side, prompting him to exit through a window, officials added.
“I saw him driving at high speeds,” said the truck driver, who was not injured. “He swerved last-minute, but it wasn’t enough to avoid the trailer.”
Law enforcement suspected Woods was impaired during the incident. He agreed to a breath test but declined a urine sample. Woods explained he had taken medication for previous injuries, per officials. The golfer was arrested on the spot and transported to a nearby jail. A refusal-to-test charge is now pending against him.
Earlier this week, Woods participated in a match on Tuesday as part of the Tomorrow’s Golf League finals, where his team, Jupiter Links Golf Club, fell to the Los Angeles Golf Club. This marks his second major accident in recent years, following a similar rollover in 2021 in Rolling Hills Estates, California. At that time, he was traveling at twice the speed limit in a 45 mph zone when his Genesis GV80 SUV crashed into a tree, flipping into the air and landing on its side. Woods suffered significant injuries but showed no signs of impairment initially, a detail that drew criticism from some.
In 2017, Woods had previously visited a clinic for prescription medication after being arrested for DUI in Florida. Despite that history, he was not charged in the 2021 incident. The case now hinges on whether his medication or alcohol played a role in the recent accident, with investigators facing questions about their process in securing a search warrant for blood samples.
Minyvonne Burke, a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News, and Alicia Victoria Lozano, a California-based reporter focusing on climate change, wildfires, and evolving drug laws, contributed to the report.
