Five months after a dramatic rollover crash in Florida that led to his arrest on driving under the influence charges, iconic professional golfer Tiger Woods is preparing to modify his initial plea in court. Official court records confirm that the plea change hearing is scheduled for Wednesday morning at the Martin County Courthouse in South Florida.
The incident that sparked the legal proceedings unfolded back in March, when the 50-year-old golf star’s vehicle clipped a passing truck and flipped on a public roadway. No people were hurt in the crash, but Woods was forced to escape the wreckage by crawling through the front passenger door after the vehicle came to a stop. Law enforcement officers from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene, and body camera footage captured by responding officers has since been released to the public.
In the released footage, Woods is seen calm while kneeling on one knee beside the crashed SUV, telling responding officers that the crash happened unexpectedly when he glanced down at his mobile phone. The golf legend told police that he had not consumed any alcohol that day, and he passed a standard roadside breathalyzer test for alcohol. When officers asked if he had taken any prescription medication that morning, he acknowledged he had taken “a few” medications, but the portion of the bodycam footage where he lists the specific medications has been redacted from public view.
After passing the breathalyzer, Woods declined to complete a further urinalysis screening that would test for the presence of other controlled substances in his system. Officers on scene noted that they suspected Woods’ normal mental and physical faculties were impaired by an as-of-yet unconfirmed substance. A search after his arrest turned up two white pills in Woods’ pocket, which authorities later identified as hydrocodone, a commonly prescribed opioid pain medication.
Shortly after the March arrest, Woods entered a plea of not guilty to two misdemeanor charges: driving under the influence and refusal to submit to required drug testing. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Woods released a public statement via social media acknowledging the severity of his situation, announcing that he would step away from competitive golf for a period to seek professional treatment and focus on his recovery and long-term health.
It is important to note that this arrest marks the second time Woods has faced DUI-related charges. As of Tuesday, the exact nature of the plea change Woods plans to enter has not been made public. Representatives from the BBC have reached out to both prosecuting attorneys and Woods’ legal team for comment, but no additional details have been released ahead of Wednesday’s hearing.