Tiger Woods was looking at phone, showed ‘signs of impairment’ at the time of rollover, police say
Tiger Woods’ Rollover Incident: Police Report Indicates Impairment
A Florida sheriff’s deputy reported that Tiger Woods claimed to be distracted by his cellphone prior to a rollover accident that occurred on Friday, as per an incident report. The golfer, 50, 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.
According to authorities, the truck driver noticed Woods approaching at high speed and looked in his rearview mirror before initiating the turn. The Land Rover, driven by Woods, overtook the truck at the final moment, attempted to swerve, and ultimately struck the trailer. Footage from the scene captured the SUV lying on its side, with Woods exiting through a window and being detained on-site.
Damage and Injuries Reported
The incident report noted that the truck belonging to 43-year-old Jeromy Bullard sustained approximately $5,000 in damage, primarily to the rear left fender and wheel. Bullard, who operates a local home cleaning business, did not respond to immediate comment requests. His father, Ricky Bullard, shared in a brief call that his son was not hospitalized and suffered minor injuries, though he declined to elaborate further.
“I’d love to talk about it, but I can’t,” Ricky Bullard stated. “I think everything’s OK.”
During the encounter with the deputy, Woods admitted to glancing at his phone and failing to notice the truck’s slowdown. He described traveling from his residence, but officers observed multiple signs of impairment, including bloodshot, glassy eyes and extremely dilated pupils. His movements were described as lethargic, and he was seen sweating heavily despite being in an air-conditioned vehicle.
Woods struggled with field sobriety tests, limping and stumbling during one exercise. He cited recent surgeries on his back and leg as reasons for his physical state, noting his ankle spasms when walking. While he denied alcohol consumption, the report revealed hydrocodone pills in his pocket, used to manage pain. Two white pills were identified as the opioid.
Woods took a breath test at the jail but refused a urine test. Video footage showed him departing the facility late Friday night. This incident follows his 2017 arrest for DUI in Florida, where he sought treatment for prescription medication. In 2021, he was involved in a crash in California that left him seriously injured, though no impairment was detected at the time, and he was not charged.
Minyvonne Burke, a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News, and Matt Lavietes, an NBC News reporter, contributed to the report. George Solis, a national correspondent for NBC News, also provided coverage.