Tiger Woods drove 40 mph over the speed limit before crash, sheriff says
LOS ANGELES (NewsNation Now) — The cause of Tiger Woods' crash in February was speed, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva. The athlete was seriously injured in the February wreck.
The golfer was driving between 84-87 mph as he rounded a corner on Hawthorne Blvd., the sheriff said. He added Woods' car hit a tree at 75 mph. The speed limit posted is 45 mph. They examined the car's data recorder, which showed Woods never hit the brake.
Capt. James Powers said Woods may have panicked. He showed no signs of impairment or intoxication. At a news conference Wednesday, Powers explained they did not have enough probable cause to get a search warrant for a blood test.
"That is not preferential treatment," Powers said. He added past behavior cannot be used as probable cause to get a search warrant.
Powers said there were no witnesses to the crash, and Woods does not remember what happened.
Villanueva had previously said detectives had determined the cause of the crash but he would not release it, citing privacy concerns and a purported need for Woods' permission to divulge information. Woods gave the office permission to disclose the cause.
"Tiger woods and his representatives have been very cooperative throughout this investigative process," Sheriff Villanueva said.
Tiger Woods drove 40 mph over the speed limit before crash, sheriff says | NewsNation Now