Published Monday, October 01, 2007
A 56-year-old Carlton man was shot in the arm with a .22-caliber bullet while driving a semi-truck on U.S. Highway 53 north of Orr Saturday morning but kept driving to International Falls before seeking medical attention.
Sgt. Grant Toma of the St. Louis County Sheriff's Department investigated and found that the .22 bullet was fired by an 11-year-old, who was hunting with a 12-year-old friend, later admitted to shooting at a squirrel, firing toward the highway. The bullet hit the truck. Toma said the shooting appeared to be an accident but was still under investigation.
The bullet shattered the passenger-side window of the truck and entered the driver's arm. He was treated at Falls Memorial Hospital and released.
The incident occurred about 11:30 a.m. Saturday near Cusson, about 50 miles south of International Falls.
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"He didn't have any cell phone coverage there so he decided to keep driving and take himself to the hospital,'' said Toma. "It wasn't too bad of a wound. It didn't require any major surgery.''
Toma warned that hunters must be careful of their target, as well as what might be behind it -- considered a critical aspect of firearms and hunting safety.
