Two of the biggest cable news networks deviated away from the normal political discussions Tuesday following the news that golf legend Tiger Woods was involved in a serious single-vehicle wreck in Southern California. Both Fox News and CNN devoted major resources to covering the story.
By late afternoon, both networks had shifted regularly scheduled programming which included carrying a live press conference held by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.
CNN spoke to a local resident who lives in the area where Tiger crashed his loaner vehicle. “And as you are coming down, it gets very steep,” said Steve Robles about the steep that Woods’ vehicle traveled down. “It is easy to, without trying to gain, to pick up more and more speed, you actually have to be riding your brake as you’re coming down and probably right where he lost control.”
Fox News welcomed longtime sportscaster Jim Gray who spoke to Tiger’s tenacity and strength. “This is a tough guy, a very strong guy…He knows what it takes to endure a significant amount of pain.”
Both networks inaccurately speculated that rescue personnel used the Jaws of Life to cut Woods out of the vehicle.
“Earlier, it was stated that the jaws of life were utilized to extricate the person trapped. It was later determined by our personnel that halligan tool, which is used for prying and an ax was also used to pry the person free from the vehicle,” said Chief Daryl Osb, Los Angeles County Fire Department
Both networks speculated that Tiger Woods may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident, something authorities have not confirmed.
