Forensic experts question Tiger Woods crash probe after new finding. Available evidence in the case indicates the need for further investigation.
The following written content by Yaron Steinbuch
The LA County Sheriff’s Department made several critical decisions in the investigation of Tiger Woods’ devastating crash that were favorable to the golfing legend — who was given the benefit of the doubt despite indications he was inattentive or had dosed off, according to a report.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced on Feb. 23 — when Woods crashed a loaned Genesis GV80, breaking several bones in his leg — that his deputies “did not see any evidence of impairment.”
A day later, he announced that the crash was “purely an accident” and said there had been no need to bring in a drug-recognition expert to evaluate the 45-year-old Woods for impairment.
But several forensic experts told USA Today Sports that the available evidence in the case indicates Woods was inattentive or asleep when the SUV went right into a median instead of staying in the lane as it curved right.
They cited clues, including the lack of skid marks indicating braking, for questioning the Sheriff Department’s decision to quickly label the crash an “accident” and to not bring in an expert to have the Woods’ blood examined.
“LASD is not releasing any further information at this time,” the sheriff’s department told USA Today Sports in a statement. “The traffic collision investigation is ongoing and traffic investigators continue to work to determine the cause of the collision.”
Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, didn’t return a message from the news outlet seeking comment.
Accident reconstruction experts said the links legend’s inability to remember driving at all was reason enough to bring in a drug-recognition expert, or DRE.
“I would have thought that you would have him evaluated by a DRE to see whether or not there are some physical clues beyond the operation that would point to impairment,” said Charles Schack, a former New Hampshire state police trooper who is now president of Crash Experts, which analyzes accidents. Read more from NY Post.
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