Jay Leno In Car Accident Days After Hospital Release

Jay Leno was not harmed after suffering yet another car accident, this time, a minor fender bender.

By Jennifer Asencio | Published

jay leno
Jay Leno

Although Jay Leno hasn’t been having any luck with cars lately, the comedian and late-night talk show host manages to bounce back with a smile. TMZ reports that just weeks after suffering horrific burns to his face and body, he made an appearance for a show at the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, CA. However, on the way in, he grazed a police cruiser with his Tesla.

One thing Jay Leno is famous for aside from his numerous television appearances is his beloved hobby of collecting cars. A mere two weeks ago, he was working on one of the classic cars in his collection when it caught fire, resulting in second and third-degree burns to his face and torso. He was rushed to the emergency room, where he received skin grafts and treatment in a hyperbaric chamber.

He recovered very quickly from that accident, returning to the stage at the comedy club for his long-standing engagement on Sunday after only two weeks. His rapid recovery has been nothing short of miraculous as parts of his hand, arm, and face were severely burned. Jay Leno looks none the worse for wear, however, laughing off Sunday night’s fender bender in pictures and video outside the club.

Jay Leno was the host of The Tonight Show from 1992 until 2014, with a brief hiatus from 2009 to 2010. The Tonight Show host has had one of the longest careers in late-night of anyone in history, ranking only behind David Letterman and Johnny Carson and tying with his rival Conan O’Brien. This made him a staple in American households for over a generation.

jay leno
Jay Leno

However, he also began the heart of his career on The Tonight Show with his first appearance on March 2, 1977. Before that, he had small appearances in myriad television shows and movies during the Seventies and Eighties. His prominent chin made him instantly recognizable, and the patronage of Johnny Carson cemented Jay Leno as a household name when he started taking over guest host responsibilities for the aging superstar.

His car collection has received as much attention as his comedy. He owns almost 300 cars and over 100 motorbikes and continues to write articles for Popular Mechanics on the topic. His collection proves a vast knowledge of the subject as it includes classic and rare vehicles in a garage that could double as a museum.

In fact, the comedian has used his garage to showcase these cars for research and history. He opens his garage to highlight some of the vehicles he owns on Jay Leno’s Garage for car buffs that share his enthusiasm for the history of cars and their engines. Video game developer Team Bondi was allowed to use his garage to develop their game L.A. Noire and add a touch of realism by incorporating period vehicles into the graphics of their 1940s story.

Jay Leno’s Sunday night show received a standing ovation, and fans are relieved that he is okay. While his “second career” as an enthusiastic car aficionado is endearing and mostly harmless, his recent experiences remind us all to be careful, because the unexpected can happen at any time. However, Jay Leno has also reminded us that once it’s already happened, the only thing we can do is laugh about it afterward.