Tiger Woods was looking at phone, showed ‘signs of impairment’ at the time of rollover, police say
Tiger Woods Was Distracted by Phone, Showed ‘Impairment’ in Rollover, Authorities Report
According to an incident report released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, Tiger Woods was observed by law enforcement to be distracted while driving, which led to a rollover accident on Friday. The report indicates that Woods displayed “several signs of impairment” during the encounter, including the presence of opioid pain pills in his pocket. The 50-year-old golfer was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after colliding with the rear of a trailer while a truck was maneuvering into a driveway on Jupiter Island.
Details of the Collision
The truck driver informed officials that he began making the turn when he glanced in his rearview mirror and noticed Woods approaching at “high speeds.” Woods’ Land Rover overtook the vehicle at the last moment, attempted to swerve to avoid a crash, but ultimately struck the trailer. Surveillance footage captured the golfer’s SUV lying on its side at the scene, with Woods exiting through a window before being taken into custody.
Jeromy Bullard, the owner of the damaged truck, runs a local home cleaning business, as noted on his Facebook page. Bullard’s father, Ricky Bullard, stated in a brief phone conversation that his son suffered minor injuries but remained unharmed. “I’d love to talk about it, but I can’t,” he said. “I think everything’s OK.” The incident caused approximately $5,000 in damage to the rear left fender and wheel of the trailer.
Woods’ Condition and Test Results
During the interaction, the deputy noted Woods’ “bloodshot and glassy” eyes, along with “extremely dilated” pupils. His movements were described as “lethargic and slow,” and he was “sweating profusely” despite being in an air-conditioned car. Woods struggled with the field sobriety test, limping and stumbling to the right during one exercise. He attributed his physical state to multiple operations on his back and leg, and claimed his ankle occasionally seizes while walking.
Although Woods denied consuming alcohol, he disclosed taking a “few” prescription medications earlier that morning. Two white pills identified as hydrocodone were found in his left pocket, used to manage pain. He complied with a breath test at the jail but refused a urine test. Video footage showed Woods leaving the facility late Friday night.
Previous Incidents
Woods had previously faced legal issues in 2017 when he was arrested for DUI in Florida. At the time, he admitted to taking prescription medication and checked himself into a clinic. In 2021, he was involved in a separate crash in California where his vehicle hit a tree and rolled over. Authorities noted he was driving at least twice the speed limit in a 45 mph zone, but no signs of impairment were observed. He was not charged in that incident.
