The Jeremy Renner snow plow accident shocked everyone on New Year’s Day.
In his first public interview, actor Jeremy Renner shares emotional details about his near-fatal snow plow accident in an interview with Diane Sawyer that aired on Thursday.
Renner described the harrowing experience in vivid detail, revealing that he believed he would die as he was dragged under a 14,300-pound snowcat.
The actor was pulling his nephew’s truck out of the snow when the snow plow began sliding downhill. Renner opened the door and leaned out of the cab to check on his nephew, Alex, but forgot to set the snowcat’s emergency brake on before falling out of his seat.
During the sit-down, the Hawkeye actor repeatedly took responsibility for what ultimately happened, expressing remorse for its impact on his family.
“So I’m writing down notes on my phone, last words to my family,” Renner told Sawyer, even using ASL to apologize to his family. “I signed because I am. I’m sorry. I mean, I did that to them. It’s my responsibility. I feel bad that my actions caused so much pain.”
Because of the accident, the actor suffered more than 30 bones, including his ribcage and jawbone, which required facial reconstruction and multiple surgeries.
Despite that, Renner remains grateful for his survival and is full of motivation in his journey to recovery. He’s also thankful for the unwavering support of his friends in the industry and his fans.
Just three days after his accident, Renner posted an update on his Instagram account, thanking everyone for their kind words.
The Avengers actor wanted to “shift the narrative of being victimized or making a mistake,” emphasizing that he had no regrets and would do it again if it meant his nephew was safe.
“I refuse to have that be a trauma and it be a negative experience,” he added. “That is the man I’m proud of, because I wouldn’t let that happen to my nephew.”
Renner also grew emotional as Sawyer asked about his daughter’s reaction. Ava, his 10-year-old daughter whom he co-parents with his ex-wife, was not allowed to see him right after the accident as he didn’t want her to see him that way.
“She didn’t have to say anything,” Renner said, choking back tears. “I mean, she said she’s scared. She said she loved me.”
In an article from People, his sports physician, Dr. Christopher Vincent, revealed that one of Renner’s strongest motivators for recovery was his daughter.
Ava was also his inspiration for his new show, Rennervations, where he teams up with builders to transform decommissioned vehicles into something useful for youth-focused charities.
“My daughter is a big part of the design on some of these, on these buses and these ideas, she’s been a big part of that narrative on the show, but also in the behind the scenes of it all. It’s great to be doing something you love to do with people you love. That, to me, is like what Heaven is.”
During the Sawyer interview, he expressed his hopes of walking down the red carpet premiere for this new show, feeling “refueled by love and titanium.”
And on Tuesday, the 52-year-old actor made his return during the Los Angeles premiere of Rennervations, marking his first public appearance after the accident.
Aided by a cane, Renner walked the carpet with his daughter and family members.
“They’re the fuel behind a lot of things that I do, and it’s nice to be able to share this with them and be a part of it.”
Jeremy Renner: The Diane Sawyer Interview is available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu. Meanwhile, Rennervations premieres on Disney+ on April 12.
Leave a Reply