Tiger Woods has been involved in a serious car accident in the Los Angeles area.
Woods was involved in a single-vehicle crash around 7:15 a.m. Pacific time on Tuesday in the Rancho Palos Verdes area. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department initial statement, responding fire crews had to extract him from the car using machinery dubbed the "jaws of life." However, Lieutenant Michael White of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department later said Woods was removed through the windshield region of the car, using an ax and another tool.
According to the LACSD, Woods was likely traveling above the posted speed limit when he hit the median dividing the road. His car crossed over the median, rolling multiple times before his car rolled over into the hillside, stopping some 15 yards up the hill, several hundred feet away from where the vehicle struck the median. Woods was driving a Genesis courtesy car for the Genesis Invitational, a PGA Tour event he hosted over the weekend.
In a news conference hours later, the LACSD Deputy Carlos Gonzalez said Woods was wearing his seat belt and showed no signs of impairment at the accident scene. Woods was awake and alert and knew the time of day. He was removed from the vehicle and, given the nature of the accident, kept on a backboard to protect him. Gonzalez said Woods was lucky to be alive.
Woods was been transported to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and had surgery after suffering multiple leg injuries. His injuries are not considered life-threatening, according to Lt. White, who spoke to CBSN Los Angeles/KCAL-TV.
Here’s a pic of the car. pic.twitter.com/cb2TYqBS1n
— Sons of Johnnie LeMaster (@SonsofJohnnieLe) February 23, 2021
Mark Steinberg, Woods' agent, issued a statement on Woods' condition which said, "Tiger Woods was in a single-car accident this morning in California where he suffered multiple leg injuries. He is currently in surgery and we thank you for your privacy and support."
Story updated with statement from Woods' agent Mark Steinberg:
"Tiger Woods was in a single-car accident this morning in California where he suffered multiple leg injuries. He is currently in surgery and we thank you for your privacy and support."https://t.co/z7kdbXOmLZ
— Daniel Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) February 23, 2021
Woods was in the Los Angeles area to serve as host of the PGA Tour's Genesis Invitational. After the tournament concluded on Sunday, Woods remained in the area to film content with Golf Digest and Golf TV. He was seen on Monday at Rolling Hills Country Club, where he shot the content and in the area where the crash occurred, riding along as some friends played some golf, including actor David Spade. According to Golf Channel, Woods was driving to Rolling Hills for a second day of shooting and was to have arrived at 7:30 a.m. Pacific time to start the shoot.
After competing in the PNC Championship with his son Charlie in Florida in December 2020, Woods underwent a microdiscectomy procedure on his back, marking his fifth back surgery.
