LA police are lifting the accident vehicle with a crane on the 23rd (local time). /EPA Yonhap News
It is predicted that it will take several months or more for Tiger Woods, the’golf emperor’ who injured his leg in a car rollover accident, to walk again. The US police investigating this case said, “It was an unfortunate accident,” and that criminal offenses will not apply.
According to CNN on the 24th (local time), Alex Villanueva, California County Sheriff’s Los Angeles (LA) County Sheriff, told a briefing that “this incident is purely an accident.” Revealed.
“We are not considering any (criminal offenses) charges,” he said, and that there is no possibility to apply misdemeanor charges such as violent driving. At the time of the accident, such as speeding or carelessness, Woods may be at fault, but it is said that charges of violent driving or misdemeanor crimes will not be applied.
Earlier, at a briefing the previous day, the police presumed that Woods was driving downhill curves as one cause of the accident, with no evidence of drinking or taking drugs. Woods’ vehicle speed, terrain, and whether there were any debris or animals on the road are being investigated through black box images.
Tiger Woods/Photo = Yonhap News
After the accident, the police did not measure alcohol consumption because Woods’ injury was so serious. The police are planning to look at his cell phone call records and hospital diagnosis to investigate the impact that Woods’ negligence to drive or prescription drugs might have had on the accident, but it has repeatedly confirmed that there is no evidence that Woods was drinking or taking drugs at the time of the accident.
Sheriff Carlos Gonzalez, the first on-site responder, said at the time of the accident, “Woods was clear, did not smell alcohol, and there were no signs of taking drugs or drugs.” Sheriff Villanueva also said, “We hold accountability under the law, regardless of whether we are famous or not, but there was no evidence of any criminal charges.”
Woods was driving a sports utility vehicle (SUV) Hyundai Genesis’GV80′ in Los Angeles County, California at 7:12 a.m. the previous day, and was in a car rollover accident on a downhill road. Woods, who was severely injured in both legs, was urgently transferred to a hospital for surgery.
Woods suffered multiple fractures in several areas of the right shinbone and calf bone, and it is known that his ankle was also severely injured. The accident point was downhill on a curve, so accidents caused by speeding frequently occur. Woods’ vehicle passed through the median, crossed two lanes on the opposite side, hit a curb and a tree, and rolled off the road several times.
Photo = AP
Later the night before he was transferred to the hospital, Woods’ Twitter posted an official statement informing him of his health. After the surgery, it was news that Woods was awake, responding, and recovering in the hospital room. However, experts say it will take several months for Woods to walk again. Some say it is unclear whether Woods will be able to play golf again.
Dr. Joseph Purita, an orthopedic surgeon in Boca Raton, Florida, told UPI news agency, “Even if the recovery rate is really fast, it will take six months.” It was expected to work.
“It will take a few weeks for Woods’ wound to heal, and several months are expected to stand up on its own,” said Dr. Rahul Sha, a specialist in the spine and neck. In particular, if the leg bones are damaged on the skin like this accident, it will take longer to recover.
“It is important to minimize the risk of infection,” said Joseph Patterson, a doctor of orthopedic surgeon at Park Southern California University, in an interview with the Associated Press. “If the bone is exposed outside the skin, the risk of tissue infection increases.” In the aftermath of an accident similar to Woods in 2018, American Pro Football (NFL) Washington quarterback Alex, who had undergone 17 operations in the aftermath of the accident, took more than two years to recover.
Seongsu Bae, reporter of Hankyung.com [email protected]