CNN
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Hawkeye star Jeremy Renner thanked well-wishers for their “kind words” in his first social media post since the New Year’s snowfall. incident.
In a short Instagram post, where he shared a selfie reflecting on some facial bruising, Renner wrote, “Thank you all for your kind words. I’m typing right now. But I’m sending love to all of you.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Renner’s publicist, Samantha Mast, provided more details about the accident that landed Renner in the hospital, saying the actor was near his home in Nevada, disinfecting driveways before the accident.
His rep added that Renner was hauling snow from a private driveway on Sunday, so his family could leave his home after they celebrated the holidays together. Members of Renner’s family were with him when the accident occurred.
“Jeremy is making positive progress and is awake, talking and in good spirits,” Mast said in a new statement released Tuesday night. “He remains in the ICU in a critical but stable condition. He is overwhelmed with your love and support. The family asks for your continued thoughts while he heals with his close loved ones.”
On Sunday at 8:55 a.m. PT, authorities received a 911 call reporting that a snowcat, a device used to remove snow, had crashed into a pedestrian at Mount Rose Freeway, Washoe County Sheriff Darren Balaam said Tuesday during a news conference.
While it was not snowing at the time of the accident, Balaam said the Mount Rose Highway was closed due to “extreme winter weather” and there was snow that had not yet been removed. He added that about 13 to 20 abandoned cars were also on the highway and it was difficult to maneuver around them.
Balaam said the Police Department’s 1st unit arrived at the scene at 9:30 a.m. PST, with EMS on the scene to provide assistance to Renner.
Balaam said Renner was run over by his snowcat after the machine started rolling when he wasn’t in the driver’s seat. He was injured trying to get back to the snow cat.
Balaam said that Renner was using his snowcat to remove snow around his personal car at the time of the accident.
Balaam added that the authorities do not believe Renner was drunk during the incident, describing it as a “tragic accident”.
A spokesperson for Renner previously told CNN that he suffered “blunt force trauma to the chest and bone injuries.”
A source close to the actor told CNN that the 51-year-old actor has so far undergone two surgeries to treat his injuries.
Balaam said Tuesday that Renner was awake and talking to first responders when they arrived on the scene.
Balaam added that when Renner was injured, his neighbors came to their aid and brought towels while they waited for first responders.
The sheriff’s office previously said in a press release that the actor was the only person involved in the incident.
Balaam said a helicopter landed near the interstate at 9:37 a.m. PST, and at 9:56 a.m. PST, Renner was taken to a Reno-area hospital.
The Washoe County sheriff’s office currently has Renner’s snowcat and is analyzing it “to rule out possible mechanical failure,” Balaam said, which is a normal part of the investigation with such severity of injuries.
Balaam said Renner was allowed to run the Snowcat because it was on a private road shared by his neighbors and not maintained by the county.
Balaam said, “He was a great neighbour, and he used to plow those paths for his neighbour.”
According to Balaam, the authorities do not suspect any crime.
At the time of the accident, parts of western Nevada were covered in snow. The Reno area received about 6-12 inches of snow at elevations below 5,000 feet between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, and up to 18 inches at higher elevations, according to Reno National Weather Service.
Renner has previously shared several videos and photos on his verified social media accounts showing him in snowy conditions, including one Instagram video posted two weeks ago that appears to have the actor driving a snowplow.
Renner’s family released a statement Monday night thanking the hospital staff and first responders as the actor remains in the hospital.
“Jeremy’s family would like to express their gratitude to the wonderful doctors and nurses who care for him, Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff, Reno Mayor Hilary Chevy and the Carano and Murdock families,” a statement from his spokesperson said. “They are also hugely overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans.”
Renner stars in the Paramount+ series “Mayor of Kingstown” and is best known for his role as Hawkeye in several Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
Co-star in “Avengers” Mark Ruffalo Request a prayer support Renner on Monday.
Ruffalo posted on his Instagram stories, “Prayers to our brother @jeremyrenner for a full and speedy recovery.” “Please send healing his way.”
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