Tiger Woods showed ‘signs of impairment’ at accident scene: Sheriff

(NewsNation) — Golfer Tiger Woods has been arrested for allegedly driving while impaired after the vehicle he was driving Friday clipped a truck with a trailer and partially rolled over, police in eastern Florida said. The accident reportedly occurred around 2 p.m. as the two vehicles were traveling northbound on South Beach Road in Jupiter Island. Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said a fast-moving Land Rover driven by Woods overtook the truck and trailer, striking it before the second driver could get out of the way. No injuries were reported, he said, and Woods was able to extricate himself from his vehicle after it came to a stop. Authorities who responded to the scene noticed Woods showed “signs of impairment,” possibly from medication or other drugs, Budensiek told reporters at a news conference. He said the 50-year-old Woods did not register any alcohol on a Breathalyzer test but refused to submit to a urinalysis test. Police charged Woods with driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test, misdemeanors, the sheriff said. No drugs or medicine were found in Woods' car, authorities said. Budensiek said Woods was cooperative with police but added: "He was not trying to incriminate himself. So, he was careful in what he said and didn't say." This was at least the third time Woods has been involved in a car crash, most recently in February 2021, when his SUV ran off a coastal road in Los Angeles at a high rate of speed, leading to multiple leg and ankle injuries.  Woods, who lives in nearby, had been working his way back to golf from a seventh back surgery in September. He had not decided whether he could play in the Masters on April 9-12. His last official tournament was the British Open in 2024. Woods ruptured his Achilles tendon in March 2025, which kept him off the course all season, even before the back surgery. He managed to play in his indoor TGL golf league on Tuesday night. Woods has won 82 PGA Tour events and 15 major championships, second behind Jack Nicklaus. The Associated Press contributed to this report.