CNN
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‘Hawkeye’ star Jeremy Renner thanked supporters for their “kind words” in his first social media post since his snow removal accident on New Years Day.
In a short post on Instagram, where he shared a selfie reflecting bruises on his face, Renner wrote, “Thank you all for your kind words. Im (sic) too screwed up now to type. But I send love to you all.
Earlier Tuesday, Samantha Mast, Renner’s publicist, provided more details about the accident that landed Renner in the hospital, saying the actor was near his home in Nevada cleaning the aisles before the incident.
Renner was moving snow from a private driveway on Sunday, so his family members could leave his residence after celebrating the holidays together, his rep added. Members of Renner’s family were with him when the accident happened.
“Jeremy is making positive progress and is awake, talking and in good spirits,” Mast said in a new statement released Tuesday evening. “He remains in intensive care in a critical but stable condition. He is overwhelmed by the show of love and support. The family asks for your continued thoughts as he heals with his loved ones.
At 8:55 a.m. PT on Sunday, authorities received a 911 call reporting a crash involving a snowcat, a device used to remove snow, and a pedestrian on the Mount Rose Highway, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said Tuesday. , during a press conference.
Although it was not snowing at the time of the accident, Balaam said the Monte Rosa highway was closed due to the “harsh winter weather” and there was snow that had not yet been removed. He added that around 13 to 20 abandoned cars were also on the highway and were difficult to maneuver.
The first unit from the sheriff’s department arrived on the scene at 9:30 a.m. PT, where emergency medical services were on hand to provide assistance to Renner, Balaam said.
Balaam said Renner was knocked down by his snowcat after the machine started rolling while he was not in the driver’s seat. He was injured while trying to get back in the snowcat.
Renner was using his snowcat to clear snow around his personal vehicle at the time of the crash, Balaam said.
Balaam added that authorities do not believe Renner was intoxicated during the incident and called it a “tragic accident”.
A spokesperson for Renner previously told CNN he suffered “blunt force trauma to the chest and orthopedic injuries.”
The 51-year-old actor has so far undergone two surgeries to treat his injuries, a source close to the actor told CNN.
Balaam said Tuesday that Renner was awake and talking with first responders when they arrived at the scene.
When Renner was injured, his neighbors came to the rescue and brought towels while waiting for first responders, Balaam added.
The actor was the only person involved in the crash, the sheriff’s office previously said in a press release.
A helicopter landed near the freeway at 9:37 a.m. PT, and at 9:56 a.m. PT Renner was taken to a Reno-area hospital, Balaam said.
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is currently in possession of Renner’s tank and is analyzing it to “exclude any potential mechanical failure,” which is a normal part of the investigation with this severity of injuries, Balaam said.
Renner was allowed to use the snowcat because it was on a private road shared by his neighbors and not maintained by the county, Balaam said.
“He was a good neighbor and he was plowing these roads for his neighbour,” Balaam said.
Authorities do not suspect foul play, according to Balaam.
At the time of the accident, parts of western Nevada were covered in snow. The Reno area received about 6 to 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 the National Weather Service in Reno.
Renner has already shared several videos and photos on his verified social media accounts showing him in snowy conditions, including an Instagram video posted two weeks ago in which the actor appears to be driving a snow plow.
Renner’s family released a statement Monday night thanking hospital staff and first responders as the actor remained hospitalized.
“Jeremy’s family would like to express their gratitude to the incredible doctors and nurses caring for him, Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue, the Washoe County Sheriff, Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve, and the Carano and Murdock families,” reads -on in a press release from his spokesperson. “They are also extremely overwhelmed and appreciate 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.
His “Avengers” co-star Mark Ruffalo asked for prayers of support for Renner on Monday.
“Prayer for our brother @jeremyrenner for a full and speedy recovery,” Ruffalo posted on his Instagram Stories. “Please send him healing goodness.”
