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Tiger Woods driving at twice the speed limit before LA crash, investigators say

Tigers Woods faces a long road to recovery. Picture by AP
Tigers Woods faces a long road to recovery. Picture by AP Tigers Woods faces a long road to recovery. Picture by AP

Tiger Woods was driving at twice the speed limit when he crashed an SUV in southern California leaving him seriously injured, authorities said.

The golfer was driving at 84-87 mph on a downhill stretch of road outside Los Angeles that had a speed limit of 45mph, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said on Wednesday.

The stretch of road is known for crashes and drivers hitting speeds so high that there is an emergency exit for runaway vehicles just beyond where Woods crashed.

Mr Villanueva blamed the February 23 crash solely on excessive speed and Woods’ loss of control behind the wheel.

Detectives did not seek search warrants for the athlete’s blood samples, which could have been screened for drugs or alcohol.

However, investigators did search the SUV’s data recorder, known as a black box, in the days after the crash.

Woods is in Florida recovering from several operations.

Originally from the Los Angeles area, Woods had been back home in February to host his PGA tournament, the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club.

He was driving an SUV loaned to him by the tournament when he struck a raised median. The SUV crossed through two oncoming lanes and uprooted a tree.