25 years ago

2 injured by self-inflicted gun wounds

MILLBORO — Two hunters were injured last week in Bath County in unrelated accidents, according to reports from Alleghany game warden Jess Sager, the investigating officer in both cases.

At approximately 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, a 30.06 rifle belonging to Allen Wayne Anderson, 26, of Millboro, accidentally discharged while he was playing with the safety mechanism. The muzzle blast hit a tree directly in front of Anderson, flinging debris back in his face and injuring his left eye. Anderson wasn't blinded by the blast, but was taken to the hospital and treated for damage to his eye and facial lacerations. On Friday morning, Nov. 24, Scott Allen Blackwell, 24, of Charleston Heights, W.Va. was turkey hunting in southern Bath County when he lost his balance and fell. His 12-gauge shotgun discharged and the pellets hit some nearby rocks and ricocheted, lodging in his left hand. Blackwell was treated for the buckshot wound and sent on to Charleston General Hospital. The only other reported accident thus far this hunting season was the shooting death of a 14-year-old boy on opening day of hunting season.