Tiger Woods hospitalized after ‘roll-over’ traffic collision

The driver was identified as Woods, who is 45. Police said he was the only occupant of the vehicle and added that he had to be “extricated from the wreck.” He was then transported to a local hospital and needed surgery. The crash is now under investigation. He sustained a shattered ankle and two leg fractures, one of which was a compound fracture, according to the Los Angeles Times.

His injuries included a shattered ankle and two leg fractures, one of which was compound, according to a source familiar with his treatment.

Law enforcement officials said in an evening press conference that there was no evidence Woods was impaired at the time of the accident.

“No evidence of impairment at this point in time,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said. “The first contact was with the center median, and from there then crossed into the opposing lane of traffic, hit the curb, hit a tree, and there were several rollovers during that process.”

Captain James Powers of the LA County’s Sheriff’s Department corrected the earlier reports from his department that the Jaws of Life were used to extract Woods from the vehicle during an interview on Fox News.

“They were not used. That was not an accurate statement,” he said. “The fact that that got written in there maybe somebody misunderstood or assumed that extricate corresponded or correlated that with the Jaws of Life, but that was not an accurate statement.”

He added that he wasn’t sure exactly how the fire department removed him from the vehicle but that he was certain the Jaws of Life was not involved. Powers said he thinks Woods was conscious when he was extricated from the vehicle.

“Tiger Woods was in a single-car accident this morning in California where he suffered multiple leg injuries,” his manager Mark Steinberg said. “He is currently in surgery, and we thank you for your privacy and support.”

CNN anchor Brianna Keilar reported that Woods’s injuries are “moderate to critical,” citing the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The department did not provide any comment as to the golfer’s current condition in a statement.

Christopher Thomas, a spokesman for LA County Fire Department, would not confirm Woods was involved in the crash but told the Washington Examiner: “The call came out at 7:22, and we were on scene at 7:28. It was a single roll-over, and another stopped to assist, and someone hit that car. Firefighters extricated someone from the car. One patient with injuries was transferred to harbor UCLA Medical Center. Our job is to render immediate aid, get the person out and transport them.”

Woods was supposed to be spending Monday and Tuesday filming with GOLFTV, according to KTLA, a local California news outlet. The television shoot was golf lessons to celebrities such as David Spade and former NBA player Dwyane Wade.

The golfer has a history of back problems. Days before Christmas, Woods underwent his fifth back surgery, a microdiscectomy.

This isn’t the first time Woods was behind the wheel during a crash that garnered headlines. The morning after Thanksgiving in 2009, he ran over a fire hydrant and hit a tree, which started a series of events that revealed his infidelity to his wife, included the loss of endorsements, and a rehab stint. Years later, in May of 2017, he was arrested for a DUI after police found him asleep behind the wheel on the side of the road and ultimately pleaded guilty to reckless driving and checked into a clinic for help.

TV footage appeared to show sheriff’s deputies marking an area of the curb where a large chunk of concrete was missing.

The vehicle is similar to one given out as a prize at the Genesis Invitational tournament hosted at the Riviera Country Club this weekend. Woods was the host of the tournament. Hours after the accident, the vehicle was removed from the hillside. When lifted by a crane, the engine area of the vehicle appeared to be filled with tree roots and limbs.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.