TAMPA, Fla. — Former Bucs running back Leonard Fournette escaped injury late Tuesday morning after his vehicle caught fire as he drove northbound on Interstate 275.
Fournette, currently a free agent, was traveling on the interstate near Fowler Avenue when his black 2021 Dodge Durango experienced a vehicle fire due to a mechanical issue. Sgt. Steve Gaskins of the Florida Highway Patrol said Fournette, 28, came to a controlled stop along the inside shoulder and exited the vehicle safely and without injury.
The Durango, however, appeared to be irreparably charred.
Fournette posted a video to Instagram of the incident.
“Man it was one of those days today, but I would like thank God, my car caught on fire while I was driving, But (I am) still blessed,” he wrote on Instagram.
Fournette spent the past three seasons with the Bucs, starting 25 of his 43 regular-season games in pewter and scoring 17 touchdowns. After a highly turbulent 2020 regular season, he evolved into a folk hero of sorts in the playoffs, totaling 300 rushing yards and 148 receiving yards in four contests, culminating with a prolific effort (135 total yards, one touchdown) in Super Bowl 55.
He’s currently a free agent after being released by the Bucs during the offseason in a salary cap move.
