Jay Leno Breaks Bones After Being ‘Clotheslined’ In Motorcycle Accident

Former Tonight Show host Jay Leno can’t catch a break after two back-to-back accidents. He was knocked off his motorcycle last week and follows a recent incident where he was severely burned when one of his antique automobiles erupted in flames.

Leno revealed to the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Thursday he was ‘clotheslined’ by a wire in a parking lot that knocked him off his 1940 Indian motorcycle. The impact of the hit broke several bones, including the collarbone, ribs, and kneecaps. He said the accident happened on Jan. 17. 

Here’s Leno’s conversation with Las Vegas Review-Journal about what happened:

Prepping for his return to the Strip in March, Leno is recovering from a fire in his garage in Los Angeles last November. He suffered second-degree burns over his upper body and part of his face while repairing the fuel line in a 1907 White Steam Car.

That’s the incident we know about. But there’s another mishap, this month, which Leno disclosed in a phone chat Thursday.

Referring to the November fire, I asked, “How are you doing, especially after the accident?”

“It’s so funny you should say that,” said Leno, headlining for Encore Theater for the first time on Mar. 31, his first Vegas show since the November incident. “That was the first accident. OK? Then just last week, I got knocked off my motorcycle. So I’ve got a broken collarbone. I’ve got two broken ribs. I’ve got two cracked kneecaps.”

“Whoa,” I said. “Whoa, Sir.”

“But I’m OK!” Leno said. “I’m OK, I’m working. I’m working this weekend.”

Leno specified the accident happened nine days earlier (or, Jan. 17), again as he was working on a vintage vehicle. He was testing a 1940 Indian motorcycle and noticed the scent of leaking gas (fuel lines have been unkind to Leno recently).

“So I turned down a side street and cut through a parking lot, and unbeknownst to me, some guy had a wire strung across the parking lot but with no flag hanging from it,” Leno said. “So, you know, I didn’t see it until it was too late. It just clothesline me and, boom, knocked me off the bike.

“The bike kept going, and you know how that works out.”

Under medical care, usually.

He revealed he didn’t want any press about this accident because the last one in November got so much press. 

Leno said he hadn’t said anything about the accident because of the massive amount of coverage from his November hospitalization and recovery.

“You know, after getting burned up, you get that one for free,” Leno said. “After that, you’re Harrison Ford, crashing airplanes. You just want to keep your head down (laughs).”

Perhaps the two back-to-back accidents are a wake-up call for the 72yo comedian.