PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Two children ages 4 and 2, were wounded in a hunting accident Monday east of Sweet Home, Oregon, authorities said.
The children, along with their 6-year-old brother, were hunting with their father and his father at the time of the incident, according to a news release from Linn County Sheriff Bruce Riley.
The 27-year-old father of the children saw what he believed to be a deer and exited the pick-up, Riley said. While walking back to the truck, the man’s 30-30 rifle accidentally discharged, and the bullet entered the pick-up through the driver’s door, authorities said.
The round struck a 4-year-old girl and 2-year-old boy, Riley said. The boy was struck in the right leg above the ankle, causing a leg fracture. He was taken to a local hospital and then transferred to Portland hospital. The boy’s condition Monday afternoon was unknown, but Riley said the injuries appeared to be non-life threatening.
The 4-year-old girl was struck in the left shin and taken to a Corvallis hospital where she had surgery to remove a metal fragment from her leg, Riley said. She was in stable condition Monday afternoon, according to authorities.
Capt. Kevin Guilford of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office told The Associated Press that the number of children injured was revised from three children to two after a cut on the 6-year-old’s hand was determined not to be shooting related.
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office is investigating. The man has not been arrested.
Sweet Home is about 35 miles east of Corvallis.
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