What Happened To Jeremy Renner? His 2023 Snowplow Accident, Explained

2023’s New Year’s Day saw actor Jeremy Renner narrowly escaping death in an accident involving a snow plow. This incident left him incapacitated for a considerable duration. He was airlifted to a nearby trauma center specializing in critical injuries, underwent surgery, and was subsequently placed in intensive care, where he remained critical but stable. The news of his accident rapidly circulated due to Renner’s prominent status, and details soon surfaced about the incident. Renner sustained severe injuries that necessitated an extended rehabilitation period, enabling him to walk once more.

After spending over two weeks in the hospital, it wasn’t certain when or if Renner would be able to perform again, let alone walk independently. Three months post-incident, he managed to walk with a cane, but it took quite some time before he could regain his prior activity level. Given that he was 52 at the time of the accident, it’s remarkable he survived, especially considering how well he had been due to his years as a superhero on screen. Fortunately, his health was already robust thanks to his extensive career.

On a fateful January day in Reno, Nevada, while operating a heavy-duty PistonBully snowplow on his property, actor Alan Renner suffered injuries as he shielded his nephew, Alexander Fries, from the machine. Doctors credit both his robust physical and mental condition at the time of the accident for his subsequent survival and recovery.

Jeremy Renner saved his nephew’s life

On New Year’s Day, 2023, Renner and his nephew Jeremy Fries were attempting to clear a road near their property in preparation for a family ski trip. Fries was maneuvering a pickup truck, while Renner handled the plow to free the truck from being stuck. The plan worked, but as Renner went to move the plow aside, it slipped out of control. At that moment, Renner couldn’t locate Fries, so he leaned out of the vehicle to check on him. Regrettably, extending his foot “Proved to be a misstep,” as he shared during an interview with Diane Sawyer in 2023.

In a tragic incident, my uncle got entangled in the track, attempting to retreat to the cab. However, he was swept under the wheels, leading the machinery to roll over him. Witnessing the horrifying scene, Fries could only stand by, powerless. Overwhelmed with concern, he rushed towards his uncle. Initially, Fries assumed my uncle had perished, expressing his fears to Sawyer, “When I reached him, I didn’t think he was still alive… But then his head moved slightly, and a breath escaped him.

As a gamer, let me rephrase that in a way that feels more personal: I took quite the beating, to put it mildly. For a brief moment, I thought it was game over, but luckily, I got a second chance. In total, my body suffered damage equivalent to around 15% of my skeleton being shattered or fractured in some way. I broke 14 ribs, and my right knee, ankle, and shoulder all gave out. One of my lungs collapsed, I lost six quarts of blood, my jaw and eye socket were both fractured, and my liver was pierced. Thankfully, I received immediate aid at the scene before being transported for more extensive medical care. Quite a tough level, if I do say so myself!

It took a lot of work, but Jeremy Renner fully recovered

Jeremy Renner’s injuries were severe, exceeding what many would be able to cope with. As a public figure, however, he’s been open about his healing process, keeping fans updated on his progress. During his rehabilitation, Renner posted videos of him pushing through various challenges to get back to normal. Initially using a walker, he later transitioned to the treadmill for slow steps. After that, he started using a cane and eventually managed to walk without it. Toward the end of his initial recovery phase, he was able to run again.

2024 saw Renner’s first post-recovery interview with Men’s Health, where he shared his experiences and the strategies that aided his recovery from multiple injuries. Notably, he detailed how concentrating on each breath individually helped him persevere through this challenging period. In April 2025, Renner released his memoir titled “My Next Breath,” chronicling the accident and his lengthy journey toward healing.

Despite significant advancements in his recuperation, Renner acknowledges that his journey isn’t over yet. In an interview with People in May 2024, he said, “I’ve come to terms with the fact that this is a part of my life now. Things won’t return to how they were before the accident. But I’m okay with that… I’m even healthier because of it.” His optimistic outlook, comeback to acting, and the love from his family and friends have enabled him to surpass the incident, though he may not regain full strength, considering the extent of the injury from the plow.

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2025-06-15 23:30