Actor Jeremy Renner was helping to dig out a family member’s car that had become stuck in the snow when he was injured in a snowplow accident over the weekend, according to Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam on Tuesday. Renner was airlifted to the hospital and is listed as critical but stable.
Renner was able to free the vehicle from the mountain road in the Reno, Nevada, area using his personal PistenBully snowplow, according to Balaam. The snowplow began to roll when he got out to speak with the family member who had been driving. Renner then attempted to re-enter the snowplow’s driver’s seat and was run over, according to Balaam.
According to the sheriff, Renner was not impaired at the time, and there is no evidence of foul play.
“We believe this was a tragic accident,” said Balaam.
According to Renner’s publicist, Sam Mast, the actor is “making positive progress” and is “awake, talking, and in good spirits.”
“He is still in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit,” Mast said in a statement Tuesday. “He is overcome by the outpouring of love and support. The family requests that you keep him in your thoughts as he heals with his close loved ones.”
Renner posted a message to Instagram from his hospital bed during Tuesday’s press conference: “I appreciate everyone’s kind words. I’m too messed up to type right now. However, I send my love to you all.
Renner underwent surgery after the accident due to “blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries,” Mast said in a statement to CBS News on Monday. Mast stated that he remained in the intensive care unit following the surgery.
According to Balaam, the 911 call came in around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, and first responders arrived about 30 minutes later. Despite the fact that it had stopped snowing at the time of the accident, the mountain road had been closed due to three feet of snow falling the night before, stranding several other cars and making it difficult for emergency crews to get to the scene.
Renner was then airlifted to a hospital around 10 a.m., according to Balaam.
Renner, according to Balaam, had also been using the snowplow to assist his neighbors in digging out.
“He was a great neighbor, plowing those roads,” the sheriff explained.
After the accident, several neighbors rushed to help Renner and brought him towels before medical personnel arrived, according to Balaam.
Renner is a two-time Oscar nominee, having been nominated for best actor in “The Hurt Locker” and best-supporting actor in “The Town.” The 51-year-old actor is best known for his role as the superhero Hawkeye in the Marvel cinematic universe, which includes several “Avengers” films and the Disney+ series “Hawkeye.”
