Tiger Woods was transported by ambulance to Health Central Hospital in Ocoee, Florida after being involved in a car wreck at 2:25 a.m. Friday morning. He was treated for facial lacerations in the one-car accident – hear 911 audio here.
The crash occurred near his Windermere mansion in the gated Isleworth community, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report. The PGA golfer pulled out of his driveway in a black 2009 Cadillac Escalade and immediately lost control, striking a fire hydrant and a tree in his neighbor’s yard.
Police Chief Daniel Saylor said that Elin Nordegren, who had been in the home at the time of the crash, used a golf club to break out the rear window and pulled her husband out of the vehicle. Officers arrived on the scene within two minutes of being summoned. Saylor said, “There was Tiger Woods laying on the ground in front of the vehicle with his wife over him rendering first aid. He was in and out of consciousness with lacerations to his upper and lower lip. He was mumbling but didn’t say anything coherent.”
Saylor continued, “According to the officers, yes, she was very upset.” Ten minutes later an Orange County fire and rescue team arrived on the scene. The accident, which happened in the circle between his home and that of Wesley Snipes, is under investigation and charges are pending – see neighborhood configuration photo below.
The only evidence of the accident is a foot long tire mark near a tree with freshly damaged bark, and an orange-and-white street barricade that rests over a hole where the hydrant previously stood.
Sgt. Kim Montes was asked by reporters if the accident was the result of a domestic issue. He said, “Right now we believe this is a traffic crash.” Police attempted to do a followup interview with Woods on Friday but his wife indicated he was sleeping. They made arrangements to return on Saturday to further question Tiger about the circumstances. Initial reports indicate the accident did not appear to be alcohol-related, according to an official Florida Highway Patrol incident report – see below.
Woods agent, Mark Steinberg, characterized the accident as “minor” and said the 33-year-old golfer was “admitted, treated and released today in good condition.”
Rumors have circulated over the past few days that Woods has been engaged in an affair – see details and photos here. Woods and his wife Elin Nordegren, a former model, live in Orange County with their two young children. Elin and her twin sister Josefin Nordegren were working as nannies for Swedish pro golfer Jesper Parnevik in 2000 when he introduced her to the PGA phenom – see twin pics here.
TMZ is reporting that Nordegren actually inflicted the injuries to her husband, which caused him to flee the residence. She chased after him with a golf club and smashed out the back window while he was trying to get away, causing him to lose control of the vehicle. The website is also reporting that Woods has been on a prescription pain medication for an injury, which may explain why he wasn’t coherent when officers arrived on the scene.
View family photos and video footage, including an aerial view of his Windermere mansion. Second video shows car crash photos.