A Florida judge has ruled that prosecutors in Tiger Woods’ driving under the influence case may obtain the golfer’s medical records connected to his March vehicle crash and arrest.
Judge Darren Steele approved an agreement last week between Woods’ defense attorney and the State Attorney’s Office, allowing prosecutors to request records from Cleveland Clinic Martin South Hospital, where Woods was treated after the March 27 crash. The case is being handled in Martin County circuit court, located just north of Palm Beach County.
In May, Judge Steele had already signed off on a separate agreement giving prosecutors access to Woods’ prescription medication records from a Palm Beach pharmacy, covering the period from January through the end of March. Under both agreements, defense attorney Doug Duncan secured a protective order ensuring that the records can only be viewed by prosecutors, law enforcement personnel, state experts, and the defense team.
Woods entered a not guilty plea to the DUI charge. A sheriff’s office report indicated that deputies discovered two pain pills on his person, and he displayed signs of impairment following an incident in which his SUV struck a truck’s trailer and rolled onto its side.
According to the incident report, Woods was driving at high speed on a residential beachside road on Jupiter Island, which has a posted speed limit of 30 mph. His Land Rover caused an estimated $5,000 in damage to the truck. While Woods agreed to a Breathalyzer test — which showed no alcohol — he declined to submit to a urine test, authorities said.
Court records indicate that Woods has left the United States to receive care at an inpatient treatment facility.
