Officials said gorging champion Tiger Woods in Los Angeles was seriously injured in Los Angeles on Tuesday when his car slid off the road and rolled down a steep hill, leaving rescue crews out of the rubble.
The injuries were not considered life-threatening, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said a news conference hour later, saying Woods was conscious and “able to communicate” when rescue personnel arrived.
The sheriff said there was no evidence of impairment when Woods was assessed by emergency staff at the scene, and blood samples were not drawn by investigators after being taken by ambulance to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Sheriff’s deputy Carlos Gonzales, who was the first to reach the wreck, described Woods, who wore his seatbelt as “calm and charming”, and said he recognized golf a lot, when Woods was the officer Told his name as “Tiger”.
The full nature and extent of Woods’ injuries was unknown, and it was not immediately clear what impact the accident might have on the future of his career.
Woods, 45, who has endured a series of back and knee injuries in recent years, is considered the greatest golfer of his generation. He is the only modern supporter to win all four major golf titles in succession, winning the US Open, British Open and PGA Championships in 2000 and the Masters title in 2001, a feat known as the Tiger Slam.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Darryl Osby told reporters that Woods suffered serious injuries in both legs in Tuesday’s wreck and was listed in critical but stable condition. CNN reported that Woods sustained a compound fracture in his legs.