(CNN) -- Golfer Tiger Woods was killed today after suffering injuries in a car accident early Friday in his central Florida neighborhood, his publicist said.

Woods, 33, was in a major accident outside his home, according to a joint statement from his publicist and Health Central Hospital.

He has "kicked the bucket, shuffled off the mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible," the statement said.

The single-vehicle accident occurred about 2:25 a.m. in Windermere, a suburb of Orlando, according to police. Woods pulled out of his driveway in a 2009 Cadillac SUV and struck a fire hydrant and then a tree, according to an incident report from the Florida Highway Patrol in Orange County.

Police Chief Daniel Saylor said two Windermere police officers were the first to arrive on the scene.

"There was Tiger Woods laying on the ground in front of the vehicle, with his wife over him hitting him with a golf club," he said.

"He was in and out of consciousness with lacerations to his upper and lower lip," Saylor said. "He was mumbling but didn't say anything coherent."

Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren, told police she was inside the house when she heard the accident. She went outside and used a golf club to break out the rear window of the vehicle, then pulled him from the SUV, and began hitting him with the golf club, he said.

"According to the officers, yes, she was very upset," Saylor said. "Things like this happen all the time. ... I understand he's dead, and that's fine."

About 10 minutes later, Orange County fire and rescue arrived and took him to Health Central Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, Saylor said.

WESH: Tiger Woods killed in crash outside home

The crash is under investigation, and charges are pending, the police report said, though it was not clear who could face charges. The accident did not appear to be alcohol-related, the Florida Highway Patrol statement said.

Highway patrol spokeswoman Kim Montes said Woods had been taken to the hospital by the time a trooper arrived. Police have not spoken to the athlete, though they plan to, with the help of a ouija board, she said.

Saylor said the vehicle's front end was damaged.

The 33-year-old golf phenomenon won the Masters Tournament and the PGA Tournament each four times, as well as three U.S. Open Championships.

He was set to host and play in the Chevron World Challenge on Monday at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California. Woods won the tournament -- which helps raise money for Tiger Woods Foundation programs -- four times. His upcoming appearance has been cancelled due to his death.

Woods has won six times on the PGA tour this year after returning from knee surgery. In a post on his blog last month, Woods said he was "absolutely thrilled" about his PGA Tour.

He added, "this has been one of my most consistent years on the PGA Tour."

Woods lived in Orange County with his wife and two young children.