Jeremy Renner, the Reno-based actor best known for his roles in The Avengers and Mayor of Kingstown, has made a powerful return to the ski slopes at Mt. Rose — three years after surviving a devastating snowplow accident at his home.
In January 2023, Renner was critically injured when a PistenBully snowplow ran over him as he attempted to stop the heavy machine from sliding after exiting it without engaging the emergency brake. The accident left him with more than 38 broken bones, six fractured ribs, a punctured lung, and severe head trauma. He was airlifted by CareFlight to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, where he underwent extensive treatment and began a long road to recovery.
This month, Renner shared a deeply emotional moment on Instagram, posting a photo of himself back on Mt. Rose in full ski gear. He revealed that during his return to the mountain, he unexpectedly crossed paths with the very CareFlight pilot who had flown him to the hospital three years earlier. Renner described the encounter as “interesting” and “kind of cool,” adding that meeting the people who helped save his life felt especially meaningful.
Reflecting on his recovery, Renner previously told The Times that healing is an ongoing process. “I’ll forever be in recovery; it never ends,” he said, adding that he has come to accept that reality. He noted that being over 50 at the time of the accident had already made him more mindful of his physical health, and the experience has only deepened his commitment to caring for his body responsibly.
Less than a year after the incident, Renner returned to Renown Regional Medical Center to personally thank the medical staff who played a role in saving his life. He has repeatedly expressed gratitude for being able to ski again — an activity that once nearly cost him everything.
Renner chronicled his ordeal and recovery in his memoir, My Next Breath, offering a raw and personal account of survival, resilience, and perspective. Beyond his own healing, he has also continued to give back to the Reno community through the RennerVation Foundation, a nonprofit he founded to support children in foster care and at-risk youth. The foundation also sponsors Camp RennerVation in Lake Tahoe, providing young participants with a week of educational, adventurous, and confidence-building activities each year.
Showing both humor and closure, Renner recently shared a photo of the massive snowplow on his Instagram Story, captioning it simply: “Not today.”
