Jeremy Renner was crushed by his own 14,000-pound PistenBully snowplow on January 1, 2023, while trying to stop it from rolling into his nephew — an accident that broke more than 30 of his bones and nearly killed him. Three and a half years later, the Hawkeye star is riding roller coasters at Cedar Point in Ohio, filming the final season of Mayor of Kingstown, and talking more openly than ever about how close he came to not making it. Here is the full story.
Jeremy Renner Accident Details: What Happened on January 1, 2023
The accident happened on a private road at Renner's home near Reno, Nevada, close to Lake Tahoe, after a massive New Year's snowstorm. Renner was using his PistenBully — an industrial snowcat that weighs over 14,000 pounds — to tow his nephew's truck out of the snow.
According to the Washoe County Sheriff's report, Renner stepped out of the cab to talk to his nephew without engaging the parking brake. The machine began rolling forward — directly toward his nephew. Renner tried to climb back into the cab to stop or divert it, slipped, and was pulled under the machine's left steel track and crushed. Investigators found no impairment involved; a possible mechanical issue with the brake was also examined. His nephew and neighbors kept him alive until he could be airlifted to a hospital.
Jeremy Renner's Injuries: How Bad Was It?
The 911 log described a man "completely crushed," with the right side of his chest collapsed. Renner later said, "I know I died" — he believes he was briefly gone before fighting his way back. His injuries included:
- More than 30 broken bones — Renner has since put the count at 38, including eight ribs broken in multiple places
- Collapsed lung and a liver pierced by a broken rib
- Crushed chest and upper torso
- Broken jaw and mandible, plus a damaged eye socket
- A lower leg (tibia) fracture and other skeletal injuries he described as twisted "like a pretzel"
He spent roughly two weeks in the hospital, including time in the ICU, and underwent multiple surgeries. Remarkably, he was walking on an anti-gravity treadmill within months and appeared at a red-carpet premiere by April 2023.
His New 2026 Comments — and the Cedar Point Visit
Renner is trending again this summer for two reasons. First, he was spotted at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio — the self-styled roller coaster capital of the world — where park guests photographed him near the Frontier Trail under Millennium Force, with clips also showing Top Thrill 2. Renner posted that he was "kicking off summer fun" and told fans, "We had a blast with you all on this beautiful day." For a man whose chest was crushed in 2023, a day of coaster rides is a striking image of how far he has come.
Second, he has given candid new interviews about the recovery. Renner admitted the physical and mental toll made him doubt he could ever act again, and said filming Mayor of Kingstown's third season while still healing was brutal — while season four finally felt enjoyable. He also proudly showed off a return to snowplowing his own driveway this year, joking confidently about being back on the machine that nearly killed him. But he is realistic about the long haul: he says he will be "in recovery for the rest of my life," and still leans on red light therapy, hyperbaric chamber sessions and peptide therapy. He has also called the accident "a great gift" for the perspective it gave him — especially watching his daughter see him fight to live.
What Is Jeremy Renner Doing Now?
- Mayor of Kingstown: Season 4 premiered in late 2025, and Paramount+ has renewed the Taylor Sheridan drama for a fifth and final season, expected in late 2026, with Edie Falco returning alongside Renner.
- Film: He is set to play Pulitzer-winning investigative reporter David Armstrong in an upcoming film about the OxyContin crisis, and appeared in Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man on Netflix.
- Marvel: Renner has said he is not reprising Hawkeye in the next Avengers films, noting he is "pretty busy" with other projects.
- Memoir: His 2025 book My Next Breath recounts the accident and recovery in his own words.
Who Is Jeremy Renner Dating? Wife, Girlfriend and Daughter
Renner, 54, is not married. He was briefly married to Canadian model Sonni Pacheco in 2014; the marriage ended within a year, followed by a contentious custody dispute. They share a daughter, Ava, born in 2013, whom Renner credits as a driving force in his recovery. More recently he has been linked to Yi Zhou, a 37-year-old Chinese-born filmmaker and artist who has publicly confirmed a relationship and praised his "willingness to reflect and grow" — though the pairing has had its share of public drama.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What happened to Jeremy Renner?
On January 1, 2023, Renner was crushed by his 14,000-pound PistenBully snowcat at his Reno, Nevada property. He had exited the cab without setting the parking brake, and when the machine rolled toward his nephew, he tried to climb back in to stop it and was pulled under its track. He survived with more than 30 broken bones.
What were Jeremy Renner's injuries?
More than 30 broken bones (he has since said 38), a collapsed lung, a liver pierced by a rib, a crushed chest, a broken jaw and mandible, and a damaged eye socket. He spent about two weeks in the hospital and had multiple surgeries.
Is Jeremy Renner fully recovered in 2026?
He is back to work and visibly active — riding coasters at Cedar Point this summer and even snowplowing again — but he has said he expects to be "in recovery for the rest of my life," continuing treatments like red light therapy and hyperbaric chamber sessions.
Who is Jeremy Renner dating? Does he have a wife?
He is not married. He has been linked to filmmaker and artist Yi Zhou, 37, who has confirmed a relationship. His ex-wife is Sonni Pacheco (married 2014, divorced within a year); they share a daughter, Ava, born in 2013.
