Golfer Claims to Have Been on the Phone with the President During Car Crash
Famous golfer told responding officers at the scene of his recent vehicle accident that he was 'simply talking to the president' when the incident occurred. He made this statement while returning to the place where his car had flipped over on its side, as seen in body camera footage released recently.
Recorded footage has been released displaying the golfer on what appears to be a pedestrian pathway in Jupiter Island, Florida. In the video, he can be seen approaching an officer who asked him to stay near the accident site. As he walks past the officer, he can be seen putting a cellphone into his pocket and claiming that he was on a call with the president.
The identity of the 'president' the golfer refers to in the video remains unclear. The golfer is known to be friendly with former President Donald Trump and is currently in a relationship with Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. During his term as president, Trump awarded the golfer with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the country.
The former president had voiced his concern over the golfer's accident when questioned by reporters, stating, "I feel so badly. He's got some difficulty. There was an accident. That's all I know. Very close friend of mine.” Despite this, the golfer did not mention Trump's name in the bodycam footage.
Field Sobriety Tests and Legal Consequences
The released video also depicts the golfer undergoing a series of field sobriety tests. During a test that required the golfer to touch his nose with his eyes closed, an officer is heard saying, “Remember to return your hands back to your side. I’m not going to keep reminding you.”
At 50 years old, the golfer now faces charges of driving under the influence causing property damage and refusing to submit to a lawful urinalysis test. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges and is aiming for a jury trial.
He has been granted permission to leave the country to pursue “comprehensive inpatient treatment,” according to legal documents filed recently in Florida. To protect his privacy, the golfer requested permission to seek treatment outside the United States, a privilege he believes he cannot get within the country.
Details of the Accident
Following the incident, the golfer stated to the police that he had been distracted by his cellphone and was adjusting his car's radio when he hit a pickup truck, causing his own car to turn over onto its side.
The accident occurred when a Ford F-150 towing a trailer slowed to make a right turn into a driveway. The golfer, in an attempt to bypass the truck, drove his Range Rover into the oncoming traffic lane. The front right bumper of his car hit the back left side of the trailer, which resulted in his vehicle losing control and flipping onto its side.
Despite the severity of the accident, neither driver reported any injuries.