STUART, Fla. (AP) — In a significant development regarding the legal situation of famed golfer Tiger Woods, a judge has ruled that prosecutors are permitted to review medical records associated with Woods' vehicle crash and subsequent arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) that occurred in Florida.
Last week, Judge Darren Steele authorized an agreement between Woods' defense attorney and the State Attorney's Office, permitting prosecutors to request medical records from the Cleveland Clinic Martin South Hospital. This facility was where Woods received treatment following the crash on March 27. The legal proceedings are currently being handled in the Martin County circuit court, situated just north of Palm Beach County.
Previously, in May, Judge Steele had approved a similar arrangement, granting prosecutors access to Woods' prescription medication records from a Palm Beach pharmacy, which cover the time frame from the beginning of the year until the end of March. To ensure confidentiality, both agreements stipulate that the obtained records will only be accessible to prosecutors, law enforcement officials, state experts, and Woods' defense team, based on a protective order requested by defense attorney Doug Duncan.
As part of the ongoing legal case, Tiger Woods has entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of driving under the influence. According to a report from the sheriff’s office, deputies discovered two pain pills in Woods' pocket and noted signs of impairment after his SUV collided with a truck, leading to the vehicle rolling onto its side.
At the time of the accident, Woods was reportedly traveling at high speeds on a residential road on Jupiter Island, which has a speed limit of 30 mph (nearly 50 kph). The incident report details that his Land Rover incurred $5,000 worth of damages to the truck involved in the crash. Although Woods consented to a Breathalyzer test that revealed no evidence of alcohol consumption, he declined to take a urine test as requested by the authorities.
Court documents indicate that Woods has sought treatment outside of the United States, attending an inpatient treatment facility as part of his recovery process.
