Tiger Woods is “fortunate to be alive” following a major car crash in California, authorities claimed on Tuesday.
The golf enthusiast was conscious as well as had significant injuries to both legs when discovered at the accident scene.
Authorities claimed the 45-year-old remained in a “serious” problem yet was able to interact with them when they showed up on the scene in Rancho Palo Verdes, California.
His cars and truck was going downhill on a steep and also winding road when it crossed the centre, collapsed right into the visual as well as rolled over a number of times into brush and a tree.
A neighbor that lives about 15 metres (50 ft) from the crash place, a notoriously unsafe stretch of road in the area, called 911 at 0712 neighborhood time [1512 GMT]
Authorities say that the airbags deployed inside the Genesis GV80 SUV, which was loaned to Woods for the week, and that he had actually been wearing a seat belt.
Fire principal Daryl Osby stated that firemens made use of pry tools and an axe to remove Woods from the auto via the windscreen.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva told a press conference that deputies had actually discovered “no proof of problems” from medicines or alcohol at the crash site. “No disability was found right now but it will certainly be the subject of the investigation,” he claimed.
The constable claimed that “it would certainly have been a deadly crash” if the inside of the Genesis GV80 SUV had actually not continued to be undamaged in the accident.
“The interior of the cars and truck was undamaged which type of offered him the pillow to make it through,” claimed Mr Villanueva.
Mr Villanueva included that there were no indications of stopping or skid marks on the road which it appeared Mr Woods had been “addressing a fairly higher rate than typical”.
“At the time it went across the centre divider, to the point that it rested, was numerous hundred feet away, so undoubtedly that suggests they were addressing a reasonably better rate than typical,” Mr Villanueva stated.
“Because it is downhill, it slopes, as well as also it contours. That location has a high frequency of accidents. It’s not unusual.”
Deputy Carlos Gonzalez was the first officer on the scene and described Mr Woods as “calm and also lucid” when he spoke with him.
“Unfortunately, Mr Woods was not able to stand up under his own power. Mr Woods was seated in the chauffeur’s seat, I made contact with them and also made sure he was able to speak to me,” he said.
“He seemed tranquil and also lucid back then. I kept him soothe up until LA County Fire arrived on the scene.
“I spoke with him, I asked him what his name was and he said his name was ‘Tiger’. And at that minute I immediately acknowledged him. I asked him if he knew where he was, what time of day, to make sure he was oriented.
“He seemed as though he was calm as well as lucid. He did not seem worried about his injuries at the time, which prevails in website traffic mishaps when individuals are in shock.
“It’s a stressful experience. It’s not uncommon for people to be concentrated on unimportant points or even if they are in pain, they may not feel it till a lot later on.”
The replacement added that Woods was wearing a seatbelt might have contributed to saving his life.
“It is extremely fortunate that Mr Woods had the ability to come out of this to life,” said the deputy.
He was then moved to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center due to the fact that it is also an injury centre.
Woods resulted from tape two “training lessons” at the Rolling Hills Country Club with NFL quarterbacks Drew Brees and also Justin Herbert when the mishap happened.
Officials said there was additionally a second car mishap caused by individuals slowing to see what had actually taken place, however nobody was injured.