Star of “Hawkeye,” Jeremy Renner, took to social media for the first time since his snow plowing accident on New Year’s Day to express gratitude for the “warm comments” he’s received from fans and friends.

Renner uploaded a selfie of his bruised face with the caption, “Thank you all for your warm sentiments. I’m in too bad of a state to type right now. On the other hand, I am sending my love to everyone.

Renner’s publicist Samantha Mast said earlier on Tuesday that the actor was plowing driveways near his Nevada home just before the mishap that placed him in the hospital.

Renner, according to his agent, was clearing snow from a private driveway on Sunday to allow his family to leave after spending the holidays together. There were members of Renner’s family present at the time of the incident.

According to a second statement published by Mast on Tuesday night, “Jeremy is making positive improvement and is awake, talking, and in good spirits.” He is still in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit. As a result of all the love and support he has received, he is completely overwhelmed. Please keep him in your thoughts as he recovers at home with his loved ones.

A very sad event

Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam stated during a press conference on Tuesday that they got a 911 call on Sunday at 8:55am PT reporting a collision on Mount Rose Highway involving a snowcat, an equipment used to remove snow, and a person.

Mount Rose Highway was blocked due to “extreme winter weather,” according to Balaam, even though it wasn’t snowing at the time of the collision. He also said that between 13 and 20 abandoned cars were blocking the road.

At 9:30 a.m. PT, while Renner was already receiving care from emergency medical services, the first sheriff’s department unit arrived on the scene, Balaam said.

As far as Balaam can tell, Renner was killed when his snowcat rolled away from him while he was out of the driver’s seat. The attempt to re-enter the snowcat resulted in him being hurt.

Balaam said Renner was operating the snowcat to clear snow from around his own vehicle when the tragedy occurred. Authorities have ruled out alcohol as a factor, Balaam said, calling the occurrence a “tragic accident.”

The actor suffered “blunt chest damage and orthopedic injuries,” according to an earlier statement from a Renner spokeswoman to CNN. According to CNN, a source close to the 51-year-old actor said that he had had two surgeries to treat his injuries.

Balaam reported on Tuesday that Renner was conscious and able to communicate with emergency personnel upon their arrival. Balaam also mentioned that Renner’s neighbors had helped him out by bringing towels as they waited for emergency personnel to arrive.

According to an earlier press release from the Sheriff’s Office, the actor was the only person hurt in the incident. At 9:37 a.m. PT, a helicopter landed along the highway, and at 9:56 a.m. PT, Renner was transported to a hospital in the Reno region, according to Balaam.

Renner’s snowcat is currently in the care of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, and its analysis is underway to “rule out any potential mechanical failure,” as Balaam explained is standard procedure when injuries are this severe.
Balaam claimed that because Renner was on a private road used by his community but not maintained by the county, he was authorized to use the snowcat.

A good neighbor, Balaam observed, “he was plowing the roads for his neighbor.” According to Balaam, the authorities are not looking into any suspicious activity.

Parts of western Nevada were blanketed in snow at the time of the tragedy. The Reno National Weather Service reported that between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, the city and surrounding area received between 6 and 12 inches of snow at elevations below 5,000 feet and up to 18 inches of snow at higher elevations.

Renner has posted many photographs and videos to his verified social media accounts that depict him in snow, including a video he posted on Instagram two weeks ago in which he looks to be driving a snowplow.

While Renner was still in the hospital on Monday night, his family issued a message of gratitude to the medical workers and emergency responders who had helped him.

In a statement, his family thanked “the great doctors and nurses caring for Jeremy, Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff, Reno City Mayor Hillary Schieve, and the Carano and Murdock families.” They are also very moved and pleased by the outpouring of support they have received from his followers.

Renner is well recognized for his role as Hawkeye in multiple MCU films, but he also starred in the Paramount+ series “Mayor of Kingstown.” Co-star Mark Ruffalo took to Twitter on Monday to ask for prayers for Jeremy Renner.

A full and fast recovery to our brother @jeremyrenner,” Ruffalo wrote on Instagram. The healing of the universe, please send it his way.