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Tiger Woods pleads no contest to reckless driving charge after Florida rollover crash
🇺🇸 United States /Crime & Justice

Tiger Woods pleads no contest to reckless driving charge after Florida rollover crash

From PBS NewsHour · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Outcome reported
  • Tiger Woods pleaded no contest to reckless driving and refusing to submit to testing after a March rollover crash in Florida, and surrendered his driver’s license for five years.
  • Prosecutors dropped the original driving-under-the-influence allegation after toxicologists found insufficient proof of impairment and cited Woods’ pharmacological tolerance to pain medication.
  • Woods’ manager said the golfer continues treatment and is prioritizing his health.

Tiger Woods left a Florida courthouse Wednesday with a five-year suspension of his driver’s license after pleading no contest to reckless driving in connection with a March rollover crash. He also pleaded no contest to refusing to submit to testing after the crash.

Woods initially faced a driving-under-the-influence charge. His SUV clipped a truck and rolled onto its side on a beachside residential road near his home on Jupiter Island. According to a sheriff’s report, deputies found two pain pills in his pocket and observed signs of impairment. Woods tested negative on a Breathalyzer but refused a urine test.

Prosecutors later accepted the reduced charge. Two toxicologists concluded that there was not enough evidence to prove impairment and determined Woods had developed a pharmacological tolerance after years of taking pain medication. Prosecutor Thomas Bakkedahl said pharmacy records showed Woods had a lawful prescription. The pills found in his pocket carried markings identifying them as hydrocodone, an opioid prescribed for pain. Woods told the arresting deputy that he took several prescription medicines, including Vicodin, which contains hydrocodone.

Tiger is not absolved of accountability and he surrendered his license for the next five years.

— Mark SteinbergWoods’ longtime manager described the consequences of the plea and said Woods continues treatment.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Woods, 50, said little as he agreed to the plea. His girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, sat behind him during the proceedings. Woods left without speaking to reporters.

“Tiger is not absolved of accountability and he surrendered his license for the next five years,” his longtime manager, Mark Steinberg of Excel Sports, told The Associated Press. “He is continuing his treatment and prioritizing all aspects of his health.”

The case adds another setback to a career already affected by numerous back and knee surgeries, car crashes and dependence on pain medication. Woods remains one of golf’s most recognizable figures and won his 15th major at the 2019 Masters.

I did what I think is right.

— Thomas BakkedahlThe prosecutor defended accepting the reduced charge.
About this summary

Originally published by PBS NewsHour in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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