Actor Jeremy Renner, who was seriously injured on January 1 when he was run over by a PistenBully snow groomer, had been trying to protect his adult nephew.

CNN noted that according to the redacted Washoe County Sheriff's Office incident report, Renner told investigators that the episode unfolded when he had towed his nephew's truck out of the driveway — after towing the vehicle into the street, the PistenBully started "sliding sideways" and started "to roll down the hill," Renner noted. He informed investigators that he then jumped out of the machine.

"Once he was off the Pistenbully, he realized it was heading directly toward (his nephew)," the report notes, according to CNN. "He feared the Pistenbully was going to hit (his nephew), so he decided to attempt to stop or divert the Pistenbully."

In order to get into the PistenBully's cab, the actor needed to get on the track, but he was "immediately pulled under the left side track," the report states, according to CNN.

"The Pistenbully snow groomer began sliding causing Renner to exit the vehicle without setting the emergency brake," the report said, according to the outlet. "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. 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."

Renner has played the character of Clint Barton, or Hawkeye, on "Avengers" movies and in Marvel Studios' six-episode "Hawkeye" series.

"I want to thank EVERYONE for their messages and thoughtfulness for my family and I …. Much love and appreciation to you all. These 30 plus broken bones will mend , grow stronger, just like the love and bond with family and friends deepens," Renner noted in an Instagram post.

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