New details have emerged about the harrowing snow-plow accident that required actor Jeremy Renner to be airlifted to a hospital on New Year's Day, Fox News reported. Renner required emergency surgery Sunday after he sustained injuries to his chest and leg after a snow groomer vehicle rolled over him.
A storm dumped three feet of snow in the area of Renner's Nevada home on New Year's Eve. The next day, a family member attempting to pull out of the driveway in one of the "Hawkeye" star's personal vehicles got stuck.
Renner was able to successfully tow the vehicle out of his driveway using his seven-ton PistenBully snowcat. However, the snow groomer began to roll after Renner had exited the vehicle.
"In an effort to stop the rolling PistenBully, Mr. Renner attempted to get back into the driver's seat," Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam explained during a news conference Tuesday. "Based on our investigation, it's at this point Mr. Renner is run over by the PistenBully."
The "Mission: Impossible" actor was airlifted to a local hospital after receiving treatment from quick-thinking neighbors. He underwent surgery to save his life though his prognosis is still unknown.
"Jeremy is making positive progress and is awake, talking and in good spirits," a representative for Renner said Tuesday. "He remains in ICU in critical but stable condition."
"He is overwhelmed by the showing of love and support," the representative added. "The family asks for your continued thoughts while he heals with his close loved ones."
Later that day, Renner posted a selfie on Instagram with a short update. "Thank you all for your kind words," he wrote.
"Im too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all," Renner added.
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Renner's career took off after his back-to-back Academy Awards nominations beginning with "The Hurt Locker" in 2008. He was again nominated in 2009 for "The Town," though he walked away from both awards ceremonies empty-handed.
However, those roles catapulted his career and made the star a household name. Renner has since worked alongside other A-listers like Tom Cruise in 2011 "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" and again in 2015 for "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation."
His most enduring role has been as Hawkeye in Marvel's "The Avengers" franchise. After the news broke of his accident, co-star Mark Ruffalo sent well-wishes to Renner.
"Prayers up for our brother @jeremyrenner on a full and speedy recovery," Ruffalo said on his Instagram stories, according to People. He included a photo of the accident that had been circulated by many news outlets.
There's no doubt the road to recovery will be a long one for Renner. However, the circumstances suggest the accident could have been much worse for the 51-year-old.
