Jeremy Renner injured trying to save nephew from runaway snow plough

Actor Jeremy Renner was trying to stop a six-tonne snow plough from crashing into his nephew when he was run over, a new police report has revealed.

The Avengers star broke 30 bones as he was crushed by the PistenBully plough while trying to jump back into its cab as it slid down a hill.

The 52-year-old had been trying to help Alexander Fries free his car from the snow on a private road just north of Lake Tahoe, close to the Nevada-California border.

“They had a chain connected to the back of the PistenBully and to the front of the Ford pick-up. They got the pick-up truck out of the driveway and Alexander parked in the middle of the street,” explained Garret Leone, Washoe County Sheriff's Office deputy.

At that point, the plough started sliding down the hill, as the parking brake had not been engaged.

A newly released police report shed some light on issues that may have been a factor in the incident.

“Although the PistenBully had some mechanical issues, it is believed based on our mechanical inspection that the parking brake would keep the PistenBully from moving forward,” said the report, obtained by CNN.

“When Renner attempted to stop or divert the PistenBully to avoid injury to [his nephew], he was pulled under the vehicle by the track and run over.”

The brake indicator light inside the snow plough’s cab was not functioning, and “mechanical issues may have been a factor in this accident,” the report also noted.

Mr Fries began “screaming for help” as he did not have his phone, but two neighbours ran to help and swiftly called emergency services.

Renner, best-known for his portrayal of Hawkeye in the Marvel franchise of superhero films, was airlifted to hospital after the incident on New Year’s Day, where he still remains.

He wrote on Instagram: