Tiger Woods Crash: Affidavit Cites Phone Use and Hydrocodone Discovery

A probable cause affidavit reveals Tiger Woods was looking at his phone and changing radio stations before his Land Rover rolled over in Florida.

Tiger Woods informed Martin County Sheriff investigators that he was looking down at his mobile device and adjusting the radio station immediately preceding his rollover crash last Friday in Florida. The 15-time major champion, age 50, faced arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence after his Land Rover clipped a truck and flipped onto its side near his Jupiter Island residence. According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by ESPN on Tuesday, the golfer stated he failed to realize the vehicle ahead had slowed down prior to the collision.

A Martin County Sheriff deputy reported that the athlete exhibited bloodshot and glassy eyes during the roadside investigation. The documentation further notes that the 82-time PGA Tour winner had extremely dilated pupils and was sweating profusely at the scene. Authorities described his demeanor as lethargic and slow while he attempted to perform field sobriety exercises. Despite these physical observations, the golf icon told officials that he had consumed zero alcohol on the day of the incident.

Search procedures conducted by law enforcement led to the discovery of two hydrocodone pills inside the driver's pant pocket. When questioned by authorities regarding the use of prescription medication, the 50-year-old replied, "I take a few." The affidavit specifies that the subject claimed to have ingested the medicine earlier that morning. This detail follows his admission that his attention was divided between his smartphone and the vehicle's console at the moment the Land Rover struck the preceding truck.

The rollover occurred in close proximity to the golfer's home on Jupiter Island. The impact caused the SUV to rest on its side after the initial contact with the other motorist. Investigators from the Martin County Sheriff's office utilized the probable cause affidavit to outline the timeline of the arrest, which took place on a Friday. The document serves as the primary record for the claims regarding distracted driving and the physical state of the driver at the time of the arrest. No other passengers were reported in the vehicle during the Florida accident.

Field sobriety tests were administered on the shoulder of the road where the Land Rover came to a halt. The deputy's report indicates that the driver struggled with balance and coordination during these specific evaluations. While the suspect maintained he was not under the influence of liquor, the presence of controlled substances in his clothing became a central focus of the legal filing. The affidavit confirms that the two pills were identified as hydrocodone, a powerful opioid painkiller often prescribed for post-surgical recovery or chronic pain management.

Legal experts reviewing the ESPN-obtained document highlight the significance of the driver's self-incriminating statements regarding his phone usage. By admitting to looking away from the road to interact with a device, the 15-time major winner provided direct evidence of negligence. The Martin County Sheriff's Department has processed the arrest under the suspicion of impaired operation of a motor vehicle, bolstered by the physical symptoms recorded by the responding officer. The 50-year-old now faces a legal process that will scrutinize both the pharmaceutical evidence and the admission of distracted behavior behind the wheel.