Golfer Tiger Woods will appear in a Florida court on Wednesday for a change of plea hearing following his arrest for driving under the influence. The 50-year-old was arrested in March after crashing his Land Rover on a residential road.
Woods had pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence in April. It is not known what he will change his plea to on Wednesday or if he has reached a plea deal with prosecutors.
According to a police incident report, Woods was travelling at high speeds when his vehicle clipped a truck during an attempted overtake and rolled on to its side. He managed to crawl out of his car without reporting any injuries.
Woods told a deputy at the scene that he was looking down at his phone and changing the radio station when he hit the truck.
Police report details impairment
Deputies noted that Woods showed signs of impairment following the crash. The incident report described his movements as slow and lethargic when speaking to deputies at the scene. Officers also reported that he appeared to be sweating, his eyes looked glassy, and his pupils were dilated.
Deputies found two hydrocone pills, which are used to treat pain, in his pocket. When asked by a deputy if he took any prescription medications, Woods said: "I take a few." He also told deputies he had taken prescription drugs earlier that morning.
Authorities said Woods agreed to a breathalyser test that showed no signs of alcohol, but he refused a urine test.
A breathalyser is a standard device used by police to detect alcohol levels, while urine tests check for controlled substances. Hydrocodone is an opioid medication prescribed to manage severe pain.
Inpatient treatment and past collisions
After pleading not guilty, the 15-time major winner said he was "stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment." Court records show that he subsequently travelled outside of the United States to an inpatient treatment facility.
The crash in March was the fourth car crash involving Woods since 2009.
Woods is an American professional golfer widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. His 15 major tournament titles, won between 1997 and 2019, place him second on the all-time victory list behind Jack Nicklaus.
In American criminal legal proceedings, a change of plea hearing allows a defendant to formally alter an earlier plea of not guilty. Such hearings often follow negotiations between defence attorneys and prosecutors to resolve charges without going to trial.
