Jeremy Renner Reflects On ‘Meat-Grinding’ Snow Plow Photos Two Years After Near-Death Incident
Jeremy Renner is reflecting on the snow plow incident, thanking everyone who helped give him a second chance.
On January 1, 2023, actor Jeremy Renner, best known for his role as "Hawkeye" in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was involved in a severe snow plow accident near his home in Reno, Nevada.
As The Blast reported, Renner was operating his PistenBully snowcat, a heavy-duty snow removal vehicle weighing over 14,000 pounds, to clear snow and assist his nephew after a severe winter storm. After successfully freeing the stuck vehicle, the snowcat suddenly began to roll unexpectedly.
In a desperate attempt to prevent the massive machine from hitting his nephew, Renner tried to climb back into the vehicle to regain control, but, tragically, he was pulled under the snowcat's tracks and crushed by the immense machinery, resulting in life-threatening injuries.
Now, two years later, Jeremy Renner is reflecting on that life-changing incident, thanking everyone who helped give him a second chance.
The Marvel Star Reflects On The Near-Fatal Snow Plow Accident
On January 1, 2025, two years after his accident, the Marvel star took to social media to express his gratitude.
"Happy New Year blessings to you all…. Ringing in my second “ReBirthday” today," the actor began in his lengthy Instagram post. "I send out my love, respect, and gratitude for the army of people that it took to put me back together again."
Jeremy Renner Thanks Doctors, Fans, Family, And More
He went on to thank "each and every nurse, doctor, first responder," adding that he "literally owe[s] you my life."
"All my heart goes out to my beautiful, brave nephew and the angels (my neighbors) who jumped to my aid and endured the chaos for 45 long minutes on the icy asphalt New Years morning," he continued. "I’m so sorry all the haunting images I imprinted on you all (I’ll spare you all from the meat grinding images.)"
Body camera footage from first responders documented the chaotic moments immediately following Jeremy Renner's snowplow accident. The videos revealed emergency personnel urgently attending to Renner, who had sustained critical injuries after being run over by his 14,300-pound snowplow near his home in Reno, Nevada. The footage also captured the intense atmosphere as medical teams worked swiftly to stabilize him before rushing him to the hospital for emergency care.
Jeremy Renner Says He 'Stands Strong'
Renner’s nephew, Alex Fries, quickly sought assistance from the actor’s neighbor, Rich Kovach, and Kovach's partner, Barb Fletcher. Together, they sprang into action, working tirelessly to keep Renner alive until paramedics arrived on the scene.
"My gratitude list is very long," Renner added in his social media post. "With the amount of love and prayers that flooded in from you all around the world (needing each and everyone of them), my family never leaving my side , with some divine intervention, a bit of luck and a whole lot of miracles … I stand strong again. More Open. More Loved. More Connected."
He concluded, "And f-cking BLESSED to take my next step, to take MY NEXT BREATH. Thank you with every fiber and cell in my body. I love you ALL [red heart emoji]. #MyNextBreath."
What Happened To Jeremy Renner?
Two years ago, Jeremy Renner found himself in critical condition after a devastating accident involving a seven-ton snowplow near his property in Reno, Nevada, on January 1st. Following a heavy blizzard, Renner, who had been hosting family for the holidays, took it upon himself to clear the snow and tow his vehicle, which was stuck on an icy road.
His nephew, Alex Fries—the son of Renner’s sister Kym—was in the process of detaching the chain connecting the car to the plow. Concerned for his nephew’s safety due to limited visibility, Renner leaned out of the vehicle but failed to engage the parking brake. In a split-second moment, he fell out of the snowplow. Realizing the massive machine was rolling towards his nephew, Renner attempted to climb back into the driver’s seat but was tragically pulled under the nine-foot-tall vehicle, which ran over him, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.
Jeremy Renner Suffered From Life-Threatening Injuries
Jeremy Renner was airlifted to a nearby hospital's intensive care unit (ICU), where he underwent multiple surgeries and received extensive medical care to address his critical condition.
The accident left him with life-threatening injuries, including over 30 broken bones, a collapsed lung, blunt chest trauma, and severe orthopedic injuries, particularly affecting his leg and upper body.
