Golf legend sustained injuries from serious accident, and his Genesis SUV may have literally saved his life.
Sports star Tiger Woods suffered serious injuries following a rollover accident in Los Angeles on Feb. 23. He was driving a 2021 Genesis GV80 when he reportedly crossed a median and subsequently careened off the road and down a hill, flipping multiple times before the SUV landed on its side.
The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene to discover Woods’ vehicle on its side, a twisted mess of metal. But thankfully Woods—the only person in the SUV—was alive. He was sent to the hospital where he underwent surgery to treat injuries to his legs. Afterward, he posted words of gratitude on social media.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a press briefing that the outcome could have been much worse. This was in no small part due to the Genesis’ outstanding suite of safety features.
“The cabin of the vehicle was more or less intact,” Villanueva said. “The front end was totally destroyed, the bumpers, everything was destroyed, airbags deployed all of that.
“However, thankfully the interior was more or less intact,” he added, “which kind of gave him the cushion to survive what otherwise would’ve been a fatal crash.”
2021 Genesis GV80
Woods has had a long relationship with Genesis. For the last five years, Genesis has partnered with the PGA, TGR Live, and TGR Foundation for the Genesis Invitational. In fact, Woods was driving a 2021 Genesis GV80 on loan by the automaker as part of the golf tournament Woods was involved with a week prior to the accident.
‘Thankfully the interior was more or less intact, which kind of gave him the cushion to survive what otherwise would’ve been a fatal crash.’
Genesis is a division of luxury vehicles owned by Hyundai. It began as the “Concept Genesis,” a luxe, elegant rear-wheel-drive sporty sedan. Hyundai spent five years developing the Genesis, with much effort going into its reliability and quality standards.
After its 2008 debut at the North American International Auto Show, Hyundai launched Genesis as its own brand much like Lexus and Toyota. Genesis’ current lineup consists of four vehicles, with the GV80 serving as the brand’s first SUV.
With three trim levels, the 2021 Genesis GV80 is available in RWD and AWD. 2021 models offer three engine options: a 274 hp 3.0-liter turbocharged I6, a 300 HP 2.5-liter turbocharged I4, and a 375 HP 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6.
Genesis has a substantial hot of safety features that come standard. These include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, stability control, antilock brake systems, and an impressive number of airbags.
Law enforcement is investigating and will share details on what caused the accident. But Sheriff Villanueva said there was no indication that Woods was under the influence or otherwise impaired. Deputy Carlos Gonzalez added that Woods was wearing his seatbelt, which “greatly increased” his chances of surviving.
