Tiger Woods' Florida DUI arrest and crash after prescription opioid use
Consensus Summary
Tiger Woods was arrested in Florida on 27 March 2024 after a rollover crash involving his Land Rover, which clipped a truck while he was distracted by his phone and radio. Authorities found hydrocodone pills in his pocket and observed signs of impairment, including slow movements and bloodshot eyes, though a breath test showed no alcohol. Woods admitted to taking prescription medications but refused a urine test, leading to charges of DUI, property damage, and refusal to submit to testing. His case highlights ongoing concerns about his physical health following decades of injuries, including over 20 leg surgeries and seven back operations. Woods pleaded not guilty, demanded a jury trial, and later announced he was stepping away from golf to seek treatment. Donald Trump publicly defended Woods, attributing his struggles to chronic pain rather than alcohol. While sources agree on key facts like the crash details and charges, discrepancies exist in damage estimates, procedural timelines, and whether Woods was granted permission to leave the US for treatment.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Tiger Woods was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) on 27 March 2024 in Martin County, Florida, after a rollover crash near Jupiter Island
- Woods told authorities he was looking at his phone and changing the radio station before the crash, which occurred when his Land Rover clipped a truck and flipped onto its side
- Deputies found two white pills in Woodsâs pocket identified as hydrocodone (Norco) at the crash scene
- Woods admitted to taking 'a few' prescription medications earlier in the day, including Vicodin and medications for blood pressure and cholesterol
- Woods refused a urine test for drug screening but passed a breath test showing no alcohol in his system
- Woods was charged with DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to testing; the truckâs damage was estimated at $5,000 (Guardian) and $7,254 (ABC)
- Woods underwent seven back surgeries and over 20 leg operations, with his ankle seizing up while walking, which deputies noted during field sobriety tests
- Woods was released on $1,150 bail after an eight-hour mandatory jail hold under Florida law
- Woods pleaded not guilty and demanded a jury trial, with his case scheduled for a 5 May readiness hearing (Guardian) or 23 April arraignment (Guardian/ABC)
- Donald Trump stated Woods 'lives a life of pain' due to injuries and 'does not have an alcohol problem, but he does have pain'
- Woods stepped away from golf to seek treatment and focus on health, as reported on 2 April 2024
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Donald Trump said he had spoken with Woods since the incident, noting Woods 'lives a life of pain' and 'does have pain'
- Woods waived his 23 April arraignment hearing and entered a not guilty plea with a jury trial demand on 2 April 2024
- Bodycam footage shows Woods hiccupping during questioning and deputies noting his 'bloodshot and glassy' eyes, 'profuse sweating,' and 'lethargic' movements
- Woods was taken to a hospital for medical clearance after arrest but declined treatment at the jail
- The Guardianâs probable cause affidavit explicitly states Woodsâs 'speech and movements were lethargic and slow' and 'eyes appeared bloodshot and glassy'
- The truckâs damage was estimated at $7,254, not $5,000
- ABC reported Woods was granted permission by a Florida judge to leave the US for inpatient treatment on the day after bodycam footage was released
- ABC noted Woods was hiccupping and had a compression sock over his right knee during questioning
- ABC emphasized Woodsâs 2021 car crash where doctors considered amputation of his right leg due to severe injuries
- ABCâs headline and text explicitly state Woods was 'granted a request by a Florida judge to leave the United States' for treatment
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian reports Woods waived his 23 April arraignment hearing and entered a not guilty plea with a jury trial demand on 2 April, while ABC states his arraignment was scheduled for 23 April without mentioning a waiver or plea filing date
- The Guardianâs probable cause affidavit estimates truck damage at $5,000, but ABC reports $7,254
- The Guardian mentions Woods was taken to a hospital for medical clearance after arrest but declined jail treatment, while ABC does not mention hospital clearance
- ABC states Woods was granted permission to leave the US for treatment on the day after bodycam footage was released, but the Guardian does not mention this detail
- The Guardianâs probable cause affidavit includes explicit descriptions of Woodsâs physical impairment (e.g., 'bloodshot and glassy eyes,' 'profuse sweating'), while ABCâs bodycam summary focuses more on procedural details like the compression sock and hiccupping
Source Articles
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