Indian golfer Arjun Atwal is under investigation after police said what appeared to be a high-speed street race ended in a fatal crash.
Atwal, who plays on the USPGA Tour, was not injured in the accident on Saturday at 5:30pm. The other driver, John Noah Park, 48, died at a hospital, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Kim Miller said on Sunday.
No charges have been filed against Atwal, the first player from India on the US golf tour.
"At a minimum, he is facing a charge of engaging in a street race," Miller said. "We have to see if this crash rises to the level of any other charges."
Atwal's wife, Ritika, answered the phone at their Windermere home on Sunday. She said her husband wasn't home and declined to talk about the crash.
The management company that represents Atwal later issued a statement on behalf of him and his family. The statement said Atwal did not know Park but expressed his and his family's condolences to Park's family. It went on to say Atwal could not comment on the accident because of the ongoing investigation.
"We ask that members of the press and the public do not rush to make a judgment about what occurred here, because once all of the facts have been gathered and the investigation completed, it will be abundantly clear that this was simply a horrible accident and tragedy, with no one at fault," the statement said.
Ty Votaw, a PGA Tour spokesman, said he would also need to wait before responding.
"Until we learn more, we don't have any comment at this time," Votaw said.
Miller said troopers will use skid marks and other evidence to reconstruct the crash before filing any charges. The investigation could take up to two months.
"Witnesses tell us they were engaged in a street race," Miller said. "They estimated speeds at or about 160kph. Park's vehicle hit a tree and basically just shattered. Part of the axle was found in the tree. It was a very violent crash."
The 33-year-old golfer and Park lost control on a curve on a suburban road that is a popular shortcut between the Disney resorts and upscale communities west of Orlando.
Atwal's BMW spun and came to rest on the shoulder. Park's Mercedes slammed into a tree. The cars did not collide, Miller said.
Fellow pro Daniel Chopra, who grew up with Atwal in India, said reports his longtime friend was racing sounded exaggerated.
"Obviously, it was horrible it happened," Chopra said. "I hope people won't think he's caused the accident. He's a good driver."
Atwal was the first Indian-born player to win on the European tour when he captured the 2002 Caltex Singapore Masters by five shots. He went to PGA Tour qualifying school a year later and earned his card.
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from
The former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani on Thursday was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly US$17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account. Ippei Mizuhara, who was supposed to bridge the gap between the Japanese athlete and his English-speaking teammates and fans, was sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana to four years and nine months after pleading guilty last year. He was ordered to pay US$18 million in restitution, with nearly US$17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the US Internal Revenue Service. He was
The 40-year-old LeBron James on Thursday became the oldest player to score 40 points in an NBA game, putting up a season-high 42 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors. James passed the record held by Michael Jordan, his idol and the only other NBA player to score 40 after his 40th birthday. “I’m old, that’s my take,” James said when asked about his latest achievement. “I need a glass of wine and some sleep, that’s what I think.” Jordan did it for the Washington Wizards just three days after turning 40 in February 2003. James is 38
SPEEDSKATER: Her bronze medal ended Taiwan’s run at the Asian Winter Games without a medal since the nation first participated in the second iteration in 1990 Speedskater Chen Ying-chu yesterday made history as the first athlete representing Taiwan to secure a medal at the Asian Winter Games. Competing at the HIC Speedskating Oval in Harbin, China, Chen clocked 10.510 seconds in the women’s 100m event, finishing third behind South Koreans Lee Na-hyum and Kim Min-sun, who posted times of 10.501 and 10.505 seconds respectively. Her bronze medal ended Taiwan’s drought at the Asian Winter Games since the nation first participated in the second iteration in 1990. This year’s Games mark Chen’s debut at the event. Previously excelling in roller speedskating, she won six medals at world championships before transitioning