Woods, 45, was conscious and alert when emergency responders pulled him from his vehicle, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said.
Traffic officers may take days or weeks to determine the cause of the crash, while investigating whether speed, fatigue or operator error were factors, or if Woods hit something on the road that caused him to lose control, Lieutenant Michael White from the LA County Sheriff’s Office told CNN partner KCAL / KCBS.
Woods was driving shortly after 7 a.m. PT in Rancho Palos Verdes when the SUV he was using crossed a median and crossed two lanes before hitting a curb, hitting a tree, and landing on its side of the roadway in the brush. No other vehicles were involved.
According to LA County Fire Chief Daryl Osby, Woods had to be freed from his vehicle by a rescue crew with a crowbar and an ax.
Woods drove down a winding road in an area known as a problem area for speeding and accidents, said Villanueva and Sheriff’s deputy Carlos Gonzalez.
Weather did not play a role in the accident, officials said at a news conference on Tuesday. There was no evidence of impairment, but the crash is under investigation, officials said.
Asked at the press conference whether Woods was on the phone at the time, Villanueva said investigators will need to find out whether distracted driving played a role.
What about his injuries?
According to the LA County Fire Department, Woods was taken by ambulance to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in serious condition with non-life-threatening injuries.
Woods suffered compound fractures in his legs, a source told CNN. Osby said Woods’ legs had been splinted on the spot.
A compound fracture “is an open fracture, and the bone is actually protruding from the skin, something that would have been noticeable at the time of the injury and … something that clearly needs to be treated very quickly,” says CNN Medical Correspondent Dr. . Sanjay Gupta said.
“He was able to communicate, and he was conscious,” said Villanueva.
Gonzalez, the first responder on the scene, said he kept Woods talking until the fire department arrived.
Woods had to undergo surgery after the accident, according to Golf Digest, which quoted a statement from Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg.
What type of car was Woods driving?
Woods was driving a 2021 Genesis SUV. The front of the vehicle was destroyed and the airbags deployed, Villanueva said. Woods was wearing a seat belt, Gonzalez said.
“Fortunately, the interior was more or less intact, giving him the cushion to survive what would otherwise have been a fatal crash,” said Villanueva.
The Genesis was provided to Woods as a free car by the sponsor of the golf tournament he hosted this weekend.
Woods didn’t play due to recent back surgery.
Mark Del Rosso, president and CEO of Genesis Motor North America, said on Tuesday that he was “heartbroken” when he learned of the accident.