Tiger Woods was looking at phone, showed ‘signs of impairment’ at the time of rollover, police say
Tiger Woods’ Rollover Linked to Cellphone Use and Impairment, Reports Indicate
On Friday, Tiger Woods was reportedly observed by a Florida sheriff’s deputy exhibiting signs of impairment before a rollover accident occurred, according to an incident report. The golfer, 50, informed authorities he had been distracted by his cellphone at the time, which contributed to the collision. The report also noted that he had opioid pain pills in his possession.
Woods was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after striking the rear of a trailer while a truck was maneuvering into a driveway on Jupiter Island. The truck driver described the event, stating he began the turn when he glanced in his mirror and noticed Woods traveling at high speeds. The Land Rover then surged past the truck in a last-minute attempt to avoid impact, ultimately colliding with the trailer.
Scene Details and Impairment Signs
Video footage captured the SUV of Woods lying on its side after the crash. He exited through a window, later being taken into custody at the scene. The incident report details that the truck, owned by 43-year-old Jeromy Bullard, sustained approximately $5,000 in damage to its rear left fender and wheel.
“I’d love to talk about it, but I can’t,” said Ricky Bullard, Jeromy’s father. “I think everything’s OK.”
Bullard, who operates a local home cleaning company, declined further comment. The report also highlights that Woods described looking down at his cellphone and failing to notice the truck had slowed, leading to the accident. He mentioned coming from his residence.
During the interaction with the deputy, several indicators of impairment were noted. 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 vehicle. He struggled with a field sobriety test, including a stumbling motion to the right during one exercise.
The golfer cited multiple back and leg surgeries, as well as an ankle condition that causes seizing when walking, as contributing factors. While he denied alcohol consumption, he confirmed taking a few prescription medication pills earlier that morning. Two white hydrocodone pills were found in his left pocket, used for pain management.
Woods submitted to a breath test at the jail but refused a urine test. He was seen leaving the facility late Friday night. This marks his second DUI incident, following a 2017 arrest in Florida. In 2021, he was involved in a crash in California where his vehicle hit a tree and flipped, though authorities noted no impairment signs at the time and no charges were filed.
Minyvonne Burke, a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News, contributed to the report, as did Matt Lavietes and George Solis, a national correspondent.
