Tiger Woods Was Looking at Phone, Showed ‘Signs of Impairment’ at Time of Rollover, Police Say

Details of the Incident

According to a recent incident report, Tiger Woods reportedly informed a Florida sheriff’s deputy that his cellphone had been the cause of his distraction before he collided with a trailer in a rollover crash on Friday. The report indicated that Woods exhibited “several signs of impairment” during the encounter, and he was found to have opioid pain pills in his possession.

Crash and Aftermath

Authorities arrested Woods on a DUI charge after he struck a trailer while a truck was turning into a driveway on Jupiter Island. The truck’s driver claimed he was beginning to complete the turn when he glanced in his rearview mirror and noticed Woods approaching “at high speeds.” The report states that Woods’ Land Rover overtook the truck at the last moment, attempted to maneuver, but ultimately hit the trailer.

“I’d love to talk about it, but I can’t,” said Ricky Bullard, the father of Jeromy Bullard, whose truck was damaged. “I think everything’s OK.”

Video footage from the scene displayed Woods’ SUV flipped onto its side. He exited the vehicle through a window and was later taken into custody. Woods waived an arraignment and pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, as noted in a court filing by his attorney, Douglas Duncan, who did not respond to comment requests at the time.

Impairment Observations

Deputies noted during the interaction that Woods had “bloodshot and glassy” eyes with “extremely dilated” pupils. His movements were described as “lethargic and slow,” and he was “sweating profusely” despite being in an air-conditioned car. The report also mentioned his difficulty with field sobriety tests, including a stumbling motion toward the right during one exercise.

Woods explained that he had undergone multiple surgeries on his back and leg, and that his ankle occasionally “seizes” when walking. He stated he had not consumed alcohol but was taking a few prescription medications earlier that morning, with two white pills identified as hydrocodone found in his left pocket. The drug is commonly used for pain management.

Prior Legal History

Woods had previously faced legal issues in 2017 when he was arrested for DUI in Florida. Following that incident, he voluntarily entered a clinic to address his medication use. In 2021, he sustained serious injuries in another crash in California when his vehicle hit a tree and overturned. Although authorities noted he was traveling at least double the speed limit in a 45 mph zone, no signs of impairment were observed at that time, and he was not charged.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office released an incident report Tuesday detailing the crash. The report also highlighted that Woods declined a urine test but submitted to a breath test at the jail. He was captured on video leaving the facility late Friday.