TIGER WOODS was in a serious car accident early yesterday morning in L.A., and authorities say he's lucky to be alive. Details on the crash and Tiger's condition are still rolling in, but here's everything we know now . . .
1. The L.A. County Sheriff's Department says that at around 7:12 A.M., police responded to a single-vehicle rollover crash near a resort in Palos Verdes, south of Los Angeles.
2. When they arrived on the scene, they found Tiger lucid and responsive, but trapped inside his SUV. They had to use a prybar, an ax, and several other tools to free him.
They actually pulled him out through the windshield. No one else was in the vehicle.
3. The authorities say they DON'T suspect Tiger was under the influence of anything, and they didn't take any blood. Weather was not a factor. The first officer on the scene described Tiger as "calm and able to identify himself."
4. It sounds like SPEEDING was a significant factor though. The "L.A. Times" reports that Tiger was, quote, "traveling at a high rate of speed and lost control of the vehicle, before crossing the center divider."
He reportedly struck the median . . . went across two opposing lanes of traffic . . . and landed "SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET" from the road, hitting a curb and trees as the vehicle "rolled multiple times." (!!!)
Tiger didn't appear to brake . . . and, after losing control, first struck a sign that said "Welcome to Rolling Hills Estates." As the sign suggests, the roadway is both hilly and curvy, and it's known to locals as a dangerous stretch.
It's unclear how fast Tiger was driving. The speed limit is 45 miles per hour. One officer said that since it's downhill, it's not uncommon for them to see people speeding at up to 80 miles per hour.
5. Tiger WAS wearing his seat belt, and it almost certainly saved his life.
6. No other cars were involved in the accident. However, a car that had slowed down to look at what was happening WAS struck by another vehicle. It was a minor collision and no one was hurt.
7. The sheriff's department says it could take up to several weeks to complete the investigation into the crash.
8. He suffered "significant" injuries to his right leg, and received emergency surgery from trauma specialists at the UCLA Medical Center that included the insertion of a rod into his lower right leg, and multiple screws and pins in his foot and ankle.
9. At least there's this: The authorities say that Tiger's injuries are NOT life-threatening, which is GREAT news considering the rough description of what may have happened, and the VERY gnarly photos of Tiger's SUV.
10. According to "Golf Digest", Tiger was in California for a two-day shoot for something they were putting together for GOLF-TV. This past weekend, he also hosted the PGA Tour's Genesis Invitational . . . also just outside of L.A.
During the broadcast, Tiger talked about how he wasn't sure when he'd be back on the course, because he was still recovering from his fifth back surgery in December. He said he HOPED to be able to play the Masters Tournament in April.
Obviously, it would take a miracle for that to happen now.
That was Tiger's last public appearance, but the day before the accident he was shooting stuff for GOLF-TV with Dwyane Wade and David Spade.
When the accident happened he was on his way back to the course to shoot with Drew Brees and L.A. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
There's talk that he was supposed to be at the course at 7:30 A.M., but he was running late. He was staying about an hour away . . . and had left just before 7:00 A.M.
Someone at the resort where Tiger was saying says he "took off fast" . . . and another witness claims Tiger's vehicle almost hit him on the way out.
But TMZ has surveillance footage of Tiger driving roughly five minutes before the accident, and he didn't seem to be driving exceptionally fast. In fact, he was in the slow lane behind a minivan.
