Jeremy Renner in “critical but stable” condition after “weather related” accident
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Actor Jeremy Renner has had two surgeries at a Nevada hospital after suffering serious injuries in a “tragic” snow plow accident.
The Hurt Locker star is “conscious, stable and speaking” and has reportedly had surgery as part of his “long road to recovery.”
“We can confirm that Jeremy suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries and underwent surgery today (January 2),” Renner’s family said in their original statement. “He has returned from surgery and is in critical but stable condition in intensive care.”
In a news conference Tuesday (January 3), Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam described how a family member was driving Renner’s car when it got stuck in the snow.
“He would pick up his PistenBully or SnowCat — an extremely large piece of snow removal equipment — to get his vehicle moving,” Balaam said. “After Mr. Renner removed the vehicle from the stuck spot, he got out of the PistenBully to talk to his family member and it started rolling.
“He tried to get into the driver’s seat of the PistenBully and was run over by the PistenBully.”
The plow accidentally ran over one of the actor’s legs, despite a variety of safety devices, resulting in a large loss of blood, a neighbor said.
In his first post since the accident, Renner shared a selfie from his hospital bed with the caption: “Thank you all for your kind words. I am [sic] too messy to type now. But I send love to you all.”
The 51-year-old Renner was supported by his fans and Marvel co-stars including Chris Hemsworth, Taika Waititi and Chris Pratt.
Important points
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Do you need a driver’s license to drive a snow groomer?
After the sheriff’s press conference, a reporter asked if anyone could drive a snowcat or if you needed a license to drive one.
“It was on a private road, so he can drive the snowcat. In this case, as Herr Renner always does, these private roads. He was a great neighbor and he plowed those roads for his neighbors up there. They had three feet again,” Sheriff Balaam replied.
Now, while the Marvel actor has been traveling on private roads, many companies require professional snowcat operators/drivers to have at least a driver’s license. Some even require their drivers to undergo training and certification before operating the Snowcat.
Snowcat machines are often used to clear tons of snow to prepare slopes for skiers
(Wikimedia Commons)
Inga Parkel4. January 2023 19:50
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Sheriff clears up “misinformation” about Renner’s accident
Further, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam shared the clarification of “details” of Renner’s accident in his news briefing Tuesday (Jan. 3) to clear up “some misinformation that is being circulated.”
Balaam said: “I want to clarify here and conduct a major accident investigation and we are treating it like any other major accident investigation. We still conduct interviews and edit items from the scene.
“According to our investigation, Mr. Renner’s private vehicle, driven by a family member, became stuck in the snow near his home.
“Mr. Renner would get his PistenBully or Snowcat, an extremely large snow-clearing device weighing at least 14,330 lbs (approx. 6,500 kg) to get his vehicle moving,” he continued.
“After Mr. Renner successfully towed his private vehicle from his stuck location, he got out of his PistenBully to speak to his family member. At this point you can see that the PistenBully started rolling. In order to stop the rolling PistenBully, Mr. Renner tries to climb back into the driver’s seat of the PistenBully.
“According to our investigations, Mr. Renner was run over by the snow groomer at this point. An eyewitness saw in detail how Mr. Renner got into the PistenBully and didn’t see him again until the PistenBully came to a stop in a pile of snow in front of his driveway,” explained Balaam.
“At this point in the investigation we do not believe that Mr. Renner was affected at all and we believe this is a tragic accident.”
While the investigation continues, Balaam stressed that they “do not suspect foul play.”
Inga Parkel4. January 2023 19:15
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Local authorities share the accident response schedule
During a brief news conference yesterday (Jan. 3), Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam provided a quick timetable for local authorities and the medical response to Renner’s accident.
Balaam began: “A 911 call came in at 8:55 a.m. Sunday morning for a 10-50 or accident involving a snow cat and a pedestrian. Subject had been run over by a snow groomer in the Mount Rose Highway area.”
Discussing the weather and road conditions at the time, Balaam said, “The previous evening we had seen about a meter of snow fall in the Mt. Rose area and several cars were found to be stationary on the multiple roads including Mt. Rose Hwy calmly.
“In addition, although it was not snowing at the time of the accident, Mt. Rose Hwy was closed at that hour due to severe winter weather as the snow had not yet been cleared from the highway.”
Balaam shared that the Washoe County Sheriff’s Unit first arrived at the scene at 9:30 a.m. and explained that the “delay was a direct result of the weather, traffic — abandoned cars cruising around on the road — and the closure of the… Mt. Rose Hwy. .
He continued, “When the first unit from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene, the Meadows Fire District of Truckee and the North Lake Tahoe Fire District were also on the scene.
“At 9:37 a.m. a supply plane landed near Mt. Rose Hwy,” Balaam added. “At 9:56 a.m., Mr. Renner was flown to a hospital in the Reno area by nurse plane.”
Inga Parkel4. January 2023 18:45
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Everything we know about Jeremy Renner’s snow plow accident
Amidst all the online chatter and confusion about some of the facts of his accident, read Joe Sommerlad’s helpful article below.
(Jeremyrenner/Instagram)
Marvel star recovering in Nevada hospital after ‘tragic’ New Year’s incident
Inga Parkel4. January 2023 18:15
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Will Renner be able to walk?
Initial reports after the incident said the actor had lost a large amount of blood from his leg after the snow plow ran over him.
While the extent and impact of his injuries are unknown at the moment, it has been revealed that the actor sustained blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries during the accident.
So far he has had two surgeries to treat “extensive” injuries sustained in the accident.
Inga Parkel4. January 2023 17:50
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Chris Evans says Renner is ‘tough as nails’
Renner’s Marvel co-star Chris Evans also lent a helping hand.
“Tough. Love you buddy,” the Captain America star commented on Renner’s first Instagram post since the accident.
Inga Parkel4. January 2023 17:20
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Chris Platt and Chris Hemsworth lead support for the co-star
After Jeremy Renner posted a selfie from his hospital bed, the star was deluged with support from fans, colleagues and celebrity friends.
His colleagues at Marvel, Chris Hemsworth and Chris Pratt, shared their tributes in the form of responses on Instagram.
“Speedy recovery, mate. Send love your way!” Thor star Hemsworth wrote.
Meanwhile, Pratt, who plays Star-Lord in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, commented: “Keep praying your way, brutha.”
Nicole Vassell4. January 2023 16:05
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Jeremy Renner is a “great neighbor,” says the local sheriff
In recent weeks, Jeremy Renner has become well known in his Nevada neighborhood for helping with the gathering snow.
According to Sheriff Darin Balaam, the Hawkeye star is a “great neighbor” and is always using his snowplow to clear local roads.
“He’s been very generous throughout the community and he’s one of those people that you don’t know he’s doing most of the time, but he’s made a tremendous impact on this community,” he told US media.
Nicole Vassell4. January 2023 15:39
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What is a PistenBully?
Jeremy Renner’s injuries came after he was run over by his PistenBully, a snowplough.
According to reports at the scene, Renner had tried to save his car, which was stuck in the snow. After stepping in front of the PistenBully, the heavy-duty snow groomer started rolling and rolled over him.
A PistenBully should weigh at least 6500 kg and be three times heavier than a standard car.
Nicole Vassell4. January 2023 14:40
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Jimmy Fallon and Paul Bettany among the stars supporting Renner
Among them is Jimmy Fallon, who replied: “Lots of love out there to you bud”.
Renner’s Marvel co-star Paul Bettany, who played Vision in the Avengers films and WandaVision, wrote: “Love you mate. I send you love and healing.”
Nicole Vassell4. January 2023 14:01