Aurora Starchild
Avengers star Jeremy Renner was tragically run over by a snowplow on New Year’s Day. He’d stepped out of his still-running PistenBully, a snowcat that weighs over 14,300 lbs, just before getting run over. He’s currently in the hospital and has a message for his fans.
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Jeremy Renner Spoke Out From a Hospital Bed
“Thank you all for your kind words,” read the caption. It was posted alongside a photo of Renner snapping a heart wrenching selfie. “I’m too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all.”
Renner is lying down in a hospital bed with oxygen tubes hooked up to his nose. Under his glasses, his eyes and face are red, black, blue, swollen, and incredibly scratched up.
The Hawkeye actor’s spokesperson told CNN that he’d suffered “blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries.” His publicist, Sam Mast, told the outlet that he was flown to the hospital “in critical but stable condition.”
As of Monday, Renner has had two surgeries.
The Modesto, California native owns a home close to Reno and Lake Tahoe, nestled in between the city and the mountains. He once told the Reno Gazette that grew up skiing and has taught all of the children in his family how to ski. Washoe County’s Mount Rose area was perfect for him due to the community, metropolitan variety, and beautiful scenery.
“It’s hard to find community and even know your neighbors in a big city, but with Reno, I find I know quite a few people here. It’s just big enough, and it’s just small enough for me, and I love it,” Renner told the Gazette.
Renner Has Lived in Reno-Tahoe Area for a Decade Because He Loves the Snow
Jeremy Renner has since lived in the Tahoe-Reno area for about a decade. In that time, he’s managed to prove himself to be quite a friendly neighbor and standup citizen.
Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said that the community would always fondly remember a moment that earned Renner the title of “Honorary Sheriff.” It was 2019, right after Balaam took office. Renner volunteered to shop with kids at the annual “Shop with the Sheriff” holiday fundraising event.
“His popularity amongst kids and Marvel, he has a huge impact. Those kids that he touched during [Shop with the Sheriff], he showed up to shop with our kids, I can guarantee they will never forget that moment that they got. He shared our time with us there and not only showed with a few kids, but interacted with the kids, so he’s had a huge impact,” Balaam reminisced.
The Sheriff added Renner was also known throughout the community as being “very generous.”
“He’s one of those individuals that I can tell you, most of the time you don’t know that he’s doing it, but he has made a tremendous impact on this community,” he said.
Jeremy Renner Had Used a Snowplow to Clear Neighbors’ Driveways, Tow Out a Family Member
In fact, Jeremy Renner was so generous that he would use his PistenBully snowcat to plow his neighbors’ driveways. In the Tahoe area, that can be a time-consuming endeavor. And the 14,000+ lb snowplow is supposed to make the job easier. While the specific PistenBully model being driven has not been disclosed, the massive snowcats can weigh over 25,000 lbs, depending on its attachments. They often hold anywhere from 5 to 15 people. They are not small.
If you’ve ever seen a snowcat grooming snow on a big ski resort, it’s probably a PistenBully.
According to the Washoe County Sheriffs, the tragic accident occurred after one of Renner’s relatives got his vehicle stuck in the snow. The actor used the PistenBully to tow his relative out of the snow. He then got out of the snowplow’s cabin to speak with his relative. The giant snowplow then started to roll, crushing Renner underneath.
Based on our investigation, Mr. Renner’s personal vehicle, which was being driven by a family member, had become stuck in the snow near his home. Mr. Renner went to retrieve his PistenBully [snowplow] or snowcat, an extremely large piece of snow removal equipment, weighing at least 14,330 pounds, in an effort to get his vehicle moving. After successfully towing his personal vehicle from its stuck location, Mr. Renner got out of his PistenBully to speak to a family member. At this point, it is observed that the PistenBully started to roll. In an effort to stop the rolling PistenBully, Mr. Renner attempts to get back into the driver’s seat of the PistenBully. Based on our investigation, it’s at this point that Mr. Renner is run over by the PistenBully. An eyewitness detailed seeing Mr. Renner get into the PistenBully and not seeing him again until the PistenBully came to a rest in a pile of snow in front of his driveway. At this point in the investigation, we do not believe Mr. Renner was impaired at all, and we believe this is a tragic accident.
Statement from Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam
Sheriff Balaam also announced that they had taken in Renner’s snowcat to investigate it for mechanical failures. He added that they did not suspect any foul play.
Support from Jeremy Renner’s Fans and Friends Has Continued to Pour In
Jeremy Renner’s spokesperson also expressed gratitude on behalf of the actor and his family.
“Jeremy’s family would like to express their gratitude to the incredible doctors and nurses looking after him, Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff, Reno City Mayor Hillary Schieve and the Carano and Murdock families,” read a statement. “They are also tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans.”
That love has certainly continued to pour in.
“Tough as nails. Love you buddy,” Chris Evans commented on Renner’s Instagram.
“Lotsa love out there for you bud,” Jimmy Fallon added.
“My brother I love you,” Taiki Waititi wrote.
“Continued prayers your way brutha,” added Chris Pratt.
“Speedy recovery buddy. Sending love your way!” wrote Chris Hemsworth.
“Brother u r a superhero to all of us. U will get through this with flying colors. Love and positive energy to u!” said Steve Aoki.
Heidi Klum, Penelope Cruz, Isla Fisher, Kate Beckinsale, Elsa Pataky, and every other celebrity in the universe chimed in with heartfelt wishes, condolences, and gratitude that Jeremy Renner had survived.
I think we can all agree it was a tragedy but also a miracle.
