Tiger Woods crash update: Woods 'awake, responsive, recovering,' per statement
Golf star Tiger Woods was seriously injured in a single-car accident Tuesday morning in Los Angeles County, authorities said.
Officials say Woods' SUV crashed into a median around 7 a.m. while navigating a stretch of road that is known for accidents in suburban Los Angeles. His vehicle then crossed two oncoming lanes and rolled several times before coming to rest on its side, according to the Associated Press.
Woods was found conscious and responsive. Although his vehicle was badly damaged, the airbags deployed, and the interior of the car remained basically intact, giving Woods "a cushion to survive the crash," according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
The L.A. County Sheriffs Dept. initially said Woods was extricated from the vehicle with the "jaws of life," but that statement was later contradicted by firefighters.
At 9:30 p.m. PT Tuesday, a statement was issued on Woods' social media detailing his injuries and his current status.
According to the statement, Woods was "awake, responsive, and recovering in his hospital room" at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he was reportedly in stable condition following surgery.
In a news conference Tuesday afternoon, an official said they checked for any odor of alcohol or other signs that Woods was under the influence of a substance but did not find any indications of impairment.
On Wednesday, Villanueva said the crash is being considered an accident, and he does not foresee any charges against Woods.
Sheriff's Deputy Carlos Gonzalez, the first authority to arrive on the scene Tuesday, said the stretch of road where Woods crashed is a "trouble spot" where drivers often exceed the speed limit, and it is a "hot spot for traffic collisions." He added that the fact Woods was wearing a seatbelt "greatly increased the likelihood that it saved his life."
Woods, 45, was in Los Angeles over the weekend to host the Genesis Invitational at Riviera, where he presented the trophy. He was to spend Monday and Tuesday filming with Discovery-owned GOLFTV, with whom he has an endorsement contract. A tweet Monday showed him with comedian David Spade.
According to Golf Digest, which is also owned by Discovery, the TV shoot was for on-course lessons for celebrities, such as Spade and former NBA star Dwyane Wade. Woods did not play.
Woods' most recent major victory came at the 2019 Masters. On Sunday, he expressed some doubt as to whether he would be able to play in the 2021 Masters in April after undergoing his fifth back surgery over the winter.
"God, I hope so," he said Sunday of whether he would play at Augusta, citing concerns about his back.
The sports world reacted with shock in the wake of the accident, with expressions of support and prayers pouring in on social media.
