Tiger Woods pleads not guilty to DUI charge after Florida car crash
Golfer entered written plea after rollover accident; also cited for careless driving. Opioids found at scene.
2:36 PM
Tiger Woods pleaded not guilty in his driving under the influence case in Florida on Tuesday, according to the online court docket for Martin County. Woods entered a written plea and planned to waive his appearance during an arraignment hearing scheduled for next month.
The plea came hours after a sheriff's report detailed findings from the scene of a rollover crash involving Woods's Land Rover SUV on Friday in Jupiter Island, Florida. According to the arrest report, Woods had bloodshot and glassy eyes, dilated pupils, and opioid pills in his pocket when interviewed at the crash scene.
At the scene, Woods told law enforcement he had looked down at his phone before the accident occurred. "All of a sudden -- boom," he said, describing the moment of impact. Officers conducted multiple field sobriety tests, which they said Woods failed. He was also questioned about medication, telling officers he had taken prescription medication earlier in the day. An officer found two hydrocodone pills in his pocket during a search.
Woods was released from jail later the same day of his arrest. On Thursday, authorities released body camera footage from the accident scene showing Woods kneeling near his vehicle as he spoke with law enforcement.
In addition to the DUI charge, Woods was cited for careless driving on Thursday in Martin County. The citation is a non-criminal traffic violation carrying a fine of $163. The careless driving citation was filed the same day authorities released the body camera footage.
According to a report citing sources close to Woods, the golfer has refused to hire a driver over the years due to privacy concerns. A source told People that Woods "doesn't want anyone to watch over him or know what he is doing" and believes "he is fine to drive." Woods's representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment.