TORRANCE (CNS) - Tiger Woods was recovering at a hospital today after suffering significant injuries to his right leg and undergoing surgery after the SUV he was driving struck a center divider in Rancho Palos Verdes and careened across the roadway, striking a tree and rolling over, landing on its side in some brush.
The crash was reported at 7:12 a.m. Tuesday on Hawthorne Boulevard at Blackhorse Road, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Alex Villanueva said a resident in the area called 911 after hearing the collision.
The 45-year-old golf star was the sole occupant of the SUV, and no other vehicles were believed to be involved in the crash. He was pulled from the wreckage by Los Angeles County firefighters and paramedics, then taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center by ambulance.
Deputy Carlos Gonzalez was the first to arrive at the scene, and told NBC4 this morning that Woods “didn't seem like he was in too much pain'' when he found the golfer trapped in the vehicle, adding he may have been “full of adrenaline or in shock.''
Woods underwent a long surgical procedure on his lower right leg and ankle by orthopedic trauma specialists, according to a tweet on his account posted at 9:30 p.m.
“Comminuted open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portions of the tibia and fibula bones were stabilized by inserting a rod into the tibia,'' Dr. Anish Mahajan, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center's chief medical officer, said in a statement posted on the tweet.
“Additional injuries to the bones of the foot and ankle were stabilized with a combination of screws and pins. Trauma to the muscle and soft-tissue of the leg required surgical release of the covering of the muscles to relieve pressure due to swelling.''
Woods was described in the tweet as “awake, responsive, and recovering in his hospital room.''
Woods was conscious when crews arrived on the scene, and fire crews used a pry-bar and an ax to remove him from the heavily damaged vehicle through the shattered windshield, Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Daryl Osby said earlier Tuesday.
`We thank everyone for the overwhelming support and messages during this tough time,'' the tweet went on. “... Thank you to the wonderful doctors and hospital staff at Harbor UCLA Medical Center, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and the Fire Department. Your support and assistance has been outstanding.''
The tweet also said, “There are no further updates at this time and we continue to thank you for your well-wishes and privacy for him and his family.''
The cause of the crash remained under investigation, although Villanueva said there was no immediate evidence that Woods was impaired in any way.
Villanueva said the investigation would determine if Woods may have been on a cellphone or distracted in any way. It was unclear if he had been speeding, although Villanueva noted that the vehicle, which was being driven northbound on Hawthorne Boulevard in a particularly accident-prone area due to the curving downhill roadway, traveled “several hundred feet'' after striking the center median.
That distance indicates Woods was “going at a relatively, a greater speed than normal,'' Villanueva said. “However, because it is downhill, it slopes and it also curves, that area has a high frequency of accidents. It is not uncommon.''
Villanueva said there were no skid marks or other signs of braking, and the first object the vehicle struck was a sign in the center median that said “Welcome to Rolling Hills Estates.''
The vehicle then crossed all the southbound lanes, sheared off a tree and rolled over. He credited the safety features in the 2021 Hyundai Genesis SUV for likely saving Woods' life.
The SUV -- which suffered major front end damage -- had a logo on its side from The Genesis Invitational golf tournament, which Woods hosted at The Riviera Country Club, suggesting the SUV was a courtesy vehicle provided by the tournament, which concluded Sunday.
Gonzalez on Tuesday said Woods was “calm and lucid'' while trapped in the wreckage.
“Mr. Woods was seated in the driver's seat. I made contact with him and I ensured that he was able to speak to me. At that time he seemed as though he was still calm and lucid. ... I kept Mr. Woods calm until L.A. County fire arrived at the scene,'' Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said he asked the driver, who was wearing a seat belt, for his name.
“He told me his name was Tiger, and at that moment I immediately recognized him,'' Gonzalez said. “I asked him if he knew where he was and what time of day just to make sure he was oriented. He seemed as though he was lucid and calm.
“It's a traumatic experience. So it's not uncommon for people to be focused on unimportant things, or even if they are in pain they might not feel it until much later.''
Gonzalez said he was wearing a body camera that was turned on per department policy during his contact with Woods. He also reiterated that the stretch of road where the crash occurred can be particularly treacherous, referring to it as a “hot spot for traffic collisions as well as speed.''
“The nature of his vehicle, the fact that he was wearing a seat belt, I would say it greatly increased the likelihood that it saved his life,'' Gonzalez said.
The speed limit in the area is 45 mph, but Gonzalez said he has seen motorists traveling at 80 mph in the stretch.
Sheriff's officials said another traffic crash occurred in the area while investigators were responding to Woods' accident, likely the result of people trying to get a look at the original wreck. No injuries occurred in that second accident.
The heavily damaged SUV Woods was driving was pulled from the brush Tuesday afternoon and loaded onto a flatbed truck. It was then driven to a tow yard in Lomita to be examined as part of the crash investigation.
Following Sunday's conclusion of The Genesis Invitational, Woods had remained in the Southland to participate in a two-day promotional shoot with Golf Digest and Golf TV at Rolling Hills Country Club, where he was reportedly headed Tuesday morning for a second consecutive day of filming.
ESPN reported Woods was scheduled to film Tuesday with New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
Woods was photographed at the course Monday with retired NBA star Dwyane Wade and comedian David Spade.
The PGA Tour issued the following statement:
“We have been made aware of Tiger Woods' car accident today. We are awaiting further information when he comes out of surgery. On behalf of the PGA Tour and our players, Tiger is in our prayers and will have our full support as he recovers.''
Other celebrities from the sports and entertainment world quickly send their well wishes.
Lakers legend Magic Johnson tweeted: “Everyone send your prayers out to Tiger Woods! He was just in a bad car accident. Let us all pray for his speedy recovery.''
Retired Major League Baseball star Alex Rodriguez tweeted: “Praying for my brother @TigerWoods as we all anxiously await more news. Thinking of him and his entire family.''
Golfing legend Jack Nicklaus wrote, “Barbara and I just heard about Tiger's accident, and like everyone else, we are deeply concerned. We want to offer him our heartfelt support and prayers at this difficult time. Please join us in wishing Tiger a successful surgery and all the best for a full recovery.''
Golfer Justin Rose tweeted: “Just seen the awful news. We know how tough you are, we've seen it a hundred times. Hoping and praying you're ok my friend.''
And actress Jada Pinkett Smith tweeted: “Prayers up for the GOAT @TigerWoods who was in an accident this morning. Was just with him yesterday. Don't take not even a MOMENT for granted! I know you're good because your Tiger within is a beast!!!''
Woods, a Cypress native who has battled back issues in recent years, last competed in a golf tournament on Dec. 20, at the PNC Championship in Orlando. He subsequently had surgery to remove a pressurized disc fragment that was pinching a nerve, his first surgery since undergoing a spinal fusion in April 2017.
Woods came back from that operation to win the 2019 Masters, his 15th major title, second only to Nicklaus' 18.
On Sunday, Woods told CBS' Jim Nantz that he was scheduled to have an MRI and would await the results to determine when he could begin training for a return to competition.
Woods has been involved had two other high-profile auto incidents. In November 2009, he crashed his SUV into a fire hydrant outside his Florida home and suffered minor injuries. In 2017, he was found asleep in a vehicle in Jupiter, Florida, and was found to have multiple painkillers and sleeping aids in his system. He subsequently entered a diversion program.
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