Woods, 45, was conscious and vigilant when emergencies pulled him out of his vehicle, Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva said.
Traffic investigators can take days or weeks to determine the cause of the crash, as they investigate whether speed, fatigue or operator error were factors, or whether Woods hit something in the road that caused him to lose control, Lt. Michael White with the sheriff of LA County. Office told CNN subsidiary KCAL / KCBS.
Woods was driving PT in Rancho Palos Verdes shortly after 7 a.m. when the sports utility vehicle he was using crossed a median and crossed two lanes before hitting a curb, hitting a tree and on his side of the driveway ended up in the brush. No other vehicles were involved.
According to Daryl Osby, LA County Fire Chief, Woods had to be pulled out of his vehicle by rescue personnel using a turnbuckle and ax.
Woods was driving downhill on a winding road, in an area known as a hotspot for speeding and accidents, said Villanueva and deputy director Carlos Gonzalez, the sheriff.
Weather was not a factor in the crash, officials said at a news conference Tuesday. There was no evidence of weakening, but officials said.
At the news conference whether Woods was telephonic at the time, Villanueva said investigators would have to determine whether derivative management played a role.
What is the status of his injuries?
Woods was taken by ambulance to the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in serious condition with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the LA County Fire Department.
Woods sustained compound fractures in his legs, a source told CNN. Osby said Woods’ legs were splintered at the scene.
A composite fracture “is an open fracture, and the bone actually protrudes from the skin, something that would be noticeable during the injury and … something that obviously needs to be treated very quickly,” CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta said.
“He was able to communicate, and he was conscious,” Villanueva said.
Gonzalez, the first reaction at the scene, said he kept Woods talking until firefighters arrived.
According to Golf Digest, Woods had to undergo surgery after the accident, which quoted a statement from Wood Stein’s agent Mark Steinberg.
What type of car did Woods drive?
Woods drove a 2021 Genesis SUV. The front of the vehicle was destroyed and the airbags were deployed, Villanueva said. Woods was wearing a seat belt, Gonzalez said.
“Fortunately, the inside was more or less intact, which gave him the pillow to survive what would otherwise have been a fatal accident,” Villanueva said.
The Genesis was provided to Woods as a court car by the sponsor of the golf tournament he hosted over the weekend.
Woods did not play due to a recent back operation.
Mark Del Rosso, president and CEO of Genesis Motor North America, said on Tuesday he was “saddened” to hear of the crash.