CNN —
Actor Jeremy Renner was trying to keep his snow removal tractor from sliding and hitting his adult nephew when he was pulled under the vehicle and crushed on New Year’s Day, according to an incident report from the Nevada Sheriff’s Office.
The parking brake was not engaged and would have stopped the snow cat vehicle, which was traveling on a track, when it began to slide sideways after the 52-year-old “Avengers” star used it to pull his nephew’s truck out of the snow, according to the redacted report by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, filed Friday.
“The snowcat snow groomer began to skid, causing Renner to exit the vehicle without applying the emergency brake,” the report concludes, obtained by CNN through a public filing request on Tuesday.
“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. When Renner tried to stop or reverse the snow groomer to avoid injuring (his nephew), he was pulled off the track under the vehicle and rolled over.”
The brake warning light in the snow groomer’s cabin was not working, and “mechanical problems may have been a factor in this accident,” the report also said.
According to the report, the nephew was able to help Renner until help arrived. Renner was flown to the hospital, where he stayed for more than two weeks, underwent at least two surgeries and was treated in intensive care.
Disability was not believed to be a factor in the incident, the report also concludes. CNN has reached out to Renner’s rep for comment.
The incident began on New Year’s Day when Renner was towing his nephew’s truck from the actor’s driveway after it got stuck in the snow, he told investigators on January 5 while he was hospitalized, according to the incident report.
After the truck was towed onto the road, the snowplow “started sliding sideways,” then “it started rolling down the hill,” Renner said. At this point, Renner jumped out of the snow groomer, he told investigators.
“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.”
In order to get into the cab of the snowplow, Renner had to climb onto the moving track and was “immediately pulled under the left siding,” according to the report.
Renner was “completely crushed under a large snow groomer (vehicle)” and had “extreme (difficulty) breathing,” with “the right side of his chest … collapsed — torso crushed,” according to an emergency call log obtained by CNN.
“The snow groomer rolled over him and drove down the street,” the report said. “He lay on the ground concentrating on his breathing while (his nephew and others) provided assistance until medical personnel arrived on the scene.”
Renner, who plays superhero archer Hawkeye in the Marvel and TV movie Universe, fractured more than 30 bones in the incident, he says.
He posted a photo to Instagram last week with a caption that read, “Morning practice resolutions have all changed this special new year…. Born out of tragedy for my entire family and quickly focused on uniting actionable love ❤️ I want to thank EVERYONE for their messages and thoughtfulness for my family and I…. Lots of love and appreciation to you all. Those 30+ broken bones heal and grow stronger as love and bonds with family and friends deepen. Love and blessings to you all.”