CNN – Jay Leno has opened up for the first time about the accident that left him with severe burns to his face and body.
In an interview with Hoda Kotb from “Today,” his first since the November 12 incident, the comedian, 72, said he was working underneath an antique 1907 car alongside his friend Dave Killackey when a series of events led to his injuries.
“The fuel line was clogged so I was underneath it. It sounded clogged and I said, ‘Blow some air through the line,’ and so he did,” Leno, an avid car collector, recalled to Kotb.
“And suddenly, boom, I got a face full of gas. And then the pilot light jumped and my face caught on fire.”
“We got two shows tonight. Regular and extra crispy.”
The “Jay Leno’s Garage” star said he told Killackey, “Dave, I’m on fire,” to which his friend at first simply responded, “All right.”
“I said, ‘No, Dave, I’m on fire.’ And then, ‘Oh, my God,’” Leno added. “Dave, my friend, pulled me out and jumped on top of me and kind of smothered the fire.”
Leno was first taken to a local hospital, and then he was transferred to the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles after the incident, CNN previously reported … read more.
HOW NOT TO SET YOURSELF ON FIRE
AMERICAN RED CROSS
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