Jeremy Renner’s snowplough accident happened as he was attempting to save his nephew and was hit by the vehicle after failing to apply the emergency brake.
According to an incident report from the Nevada sheriff’s office, obtained by Variety, Renner had used the snowplough to tow his nephew’s truck out of the snow, and after getting out without setting the brake, he attempted to stop the six-tonne plough sliding towards his nephew.
The report says: “When Renner attempted to stop or divert the PistenBully [snowplough] to avoid injury to [his nephew], he was pulled under the vehicle by the track and run over.”
The report says that the snowplough’s brake indicator light was not working and that “mechanical issues may have been a factor in this accident”. However, it adds that “it is believed based on our mechanical inspection that the parking brake would keep the PistenBully from moving forward”.
Renner, best known for playing superhero Hawkeye in Marvel films and TV shows, was taken to hospital on New Year’s Day after the incident. He suffered blunt chest trauma and required two operations, according to a statement by his publicist, and was discharged from hospital on 16 January. Renner later revealed on social media that he broke more than 30 bones in the accident.
