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.
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