Actor Jeremy Renner was trying to save his nephew when his snowplow skidded when it was dragged under water and crushed on New Year’s Day in Nevada.
The parking brake on the plow was not engaged and would have stopped the horrific accident, according to a redacted incident report from the Nevada Sheriff’s Office.
The 14,000-pound PistenBully snowcat vehicle began sliding sideways after the 52-year-old Avengers star used it to pull his adult nephew’s truck out of the snow.
The huge vehicle, which runs on rails, completely rolled over the Hollywood star, leaving him with 30 broken bones and continuing down the street.
Actor Jeremy Renner was trying to save his nephew when his snowplow skidded when it was dragged under water and crushed on New Year’s Day in Nevada
“The snowcat snow cat began to skid, causing Renner to exit the vehicle without applying the emergency brake,” the report said, according to CNN, which obtained the report through a public filing request.
“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.”
CNN said the report suggests that “mechanical problems may have been a factor in this accident,” noting that the brake indicator light in the plow’s cab was not working.
Renner’s nephew was able to help the actor until rescue workers arrived at the scene, the report said. He was flown to the hospital, where he was held for more than two weeks and underwent at least two surgeries.
The 14,000-pound PistenBully snowcat vehicle (pictured) began sliding sideways after the 52-year-old Avengers star used it to pull his adult nephew’s truck out of the snow
Renner’s nephew was able to help the actor until emergency services arrived at the scene, the report said. He was flown to the hospital, where he was held for more than two weeks and underwent at least two surgeries
According to the report, which details the accident in as much detail as possible, Renner told investigators Jan. 5 at the hospital that the incident began to unfold when he was towing his nephew’s truck off his driveway.
He dragged the truck stuck in the snow onto the street.
That’s when the snowplow “began to slide sideways,” he told investigators, and at that point it began rolling down the hill.
At that point, the report said, Renner jumped out of the plow’s cab, but quickly realized the vehicle was on course to hit his nephew head-on.
“He was afraid the snow groomer would hit (his nephew), so he decided to try to stop or distract the snow groomer,” the report said, according to CNN.
To get back into the cabin, Renner had to climb onto the moving rails. He was “immediately pulled under the left siding,” according to the report.
In a 911 call, also obtained by CNN, the caller is heard saying that the actor was “completely crushed under a large snowcat.”
A neighbor who made the call says Renner is having trouble breathing and is beginning to fall asleep. The 911 attendant can be heard telling the caller to be kept awake.
The neighbor explains they wrapped him in blankets, but says, “The right side of his chest … collapsed — the upper body was crushed.”
In separate audio released to TMZ last week, Renner can be heard moaning repeatedly in the background of 911 calls as the neighbor, who remained unnamed, explained his injuries.
Friends and family close to the ‘Bourne Legacy’ star said he ‘almost died’ waiting for help and it could take up to ‘two years’ to recover from blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries have.