IRON COUNTY, Utah, Oct 8, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A 34-year-old man is in critical but stable condition Sunday after an apparent accidental shooting during a hunting trip in the Brian Head area, police said.
A news release from Iron County Sheriff’s Office said deputies received a call at approximately 7:50 a.m. that a man had been shot by one of his hunting party by mistake. The man had been shot in the abdomen by a rifle, the news release said.
The caller said he and the victim were traveling from the Brian Head area to Cedar City in search of medical help, the news release said.
Emergency personnel responded to State Route 14 just outside Cedar City, and met the men. The victim was taken by ground ambulance to Cedar City Hospital in critical, but stable condition.
Investigators determined that the parties involved in the shooting had been hunting, but were not wearing hunter orange, the news release said. A member of the hunting party then fired the shot accidentally.
The injured man’s name has not been released.
“This is a tragic event which shows the importance of adhering to the rules and regulations when engaged in hunting activities,” the news release said. “The Iron County Sheriff’s Office wants to express our deepest sympathy to the family and victim and hope for a full recovery.”
The Iron County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the shooting and any possible criminal charges have yet to be determined, officials said.
