A CNN report by the Nevada Sheriff found that Jeremy Renner was actually trying to save his nephew when he was involved in a snow plow accident on New Year’s Day that almost took his life. The Hawkeye actor was trying to keep his snow removal tractor from skidding and hitting his nephew when he was pulled under the vehicle and crushed.
Renner told investigators he was using his snowcat to pull his nephew’s truck out of the snow when the snowplow suddenly began to slide sideways. The actor then left the vehicle to try to stop the machine.
“As soon as he got off the snow groomer, he realized he was headed straight for (his nephew),” the report reads. “He was afraid the snow groomer would hit (his nephew), so he decided to try to stop or distract the snow groomer.”
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To get back into the snowplough cab, Renner had to climb onto the moving caterpillar. The report notes that the moment he attempted to climb to the top, he “was immediately dragged under the left siding”. It is also important to note that the snow groomer’s parking brake was not engaged.
“Although the snow groomer had some mechanical problems, based on our mechanical inspection it is believed that the parking brake would prevent the snow groomer from moving forward,” the report said (nephew), it was pulled off the track under the vehicle and rolled over. “
The report also said that “mechanical problems may have played a role in this accident” due to a faulty brake indicator.
Ultimately, though, it was good news that Renner’s nephew was there, as he was able to help the actor until help arrived. Renner was then flown to the hospital; He has had at least two surgeries and been in intensive care.
Renner has since returned home but is still recovering from the accident. He took to Twitter to thank all his supporters for their love and support and revealed he broke bones during the “30 plus” incident.
Carson Burton is a freelance news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter at @carsonsburton.