Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TV legend Leno burned as car bursts into flames
Star recovering after garage fire
US chatshow king Jay Leno suffered serious burns to his face after his car erupted into flames.
The 72-year-old is “doing OK” and recovering after the blaze broke out in a vehicle in a Los Angeles garage where he keeps his fleet of luxury cars.
Jay had been due to perform at a financial conference in Las Vegas on Sunday night, but was unable to attend after suffering a serious injury to the left side of his face earlier that day.
It is understood the fire missed his eye and ear.
Jay told The Mirror: “I got some serious burns from a gasoline fire. I am OK. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet.”
The former Today Show host has an extensive collection of vehicles made up of 181 cars and 160 motorcycles.
Worth more than £44million, it includes a 2009 Aston Martin DBS, 2015 BAC Mono and a 1909 Baker Electric.
The cancellation of Sunday night’s conference performance was confirmed to Financial Brand Forum 2022 attendees
in an email from the company. It said: “His family was not able to provide us with very many details, but there was a very serious medical emergency that is preventing Jay from travelling.
“All we know is that he is alive, so our prayers go out to him and his family.”
A source told US website TMZ that the flames had burned the left side of Jay’s face and the comedian has cancelled all upcoming work commitments while he recovers.
Leno has previously been open about his health and works to raise awareness of the importance of routine check-ups and healthy eating.
He said in an interview with People: “There’s a lot of people walking around like that, they’re just time bombs. You’ve got all this cholesterol, you don’t realise it until it actually hits, you know?
“It’s like a car, if even one piece of dirt gets in the eye of the needle of the jet, and boom – no more gas comes through. That’s what happens with your heart.”
I got some serious burns from a gasoline fire.. but I’m doing OK JAY LENO TELLS MIRROR ABOUT HIS CAR ACCIDENT