BRAMBLE — State conservation officers are investigating a hunting accident which occurred Saturday at about 6:45 p.m. in northern Martin County.
According to the investigation, Josh Benton, 33, of rural Loogootee, was squirrel hunting in a wooded area near the town of Bramble. The 22-caliber rifle he was carrying became entangled in some under growth and discharged with the bullet striking Benton in the calf-shin area of his right leg. Due to the injury, he was not able to walk and could not get out of the woods on his own. He contacted the Martin County Sheriff’s Department by cell phone.
Martin County sheriff’s deputies, conservation officers, Loogootee firefighters, Martin County Fire and Rescue, Martin County Ambulance Alert 3 and other first responders arrived to the area and began the search.
Benton was found a quarter mile from his vehicle near the Bramble Conservation Club. Due to the rugged terrain, Benton was carried out by stretcher and placed on a four-wheel drive truck to be driven to the waiting Martin County ambulance where he stabilized and then transported to the Louisville Trauma Center by Air Evac.
The incident remains under investigation, conservation officers said Wednesday.
