Wanda English Burnett
Editor

Andrew M. Huntington, 23 of Osgood, was taken to the hospital after a hunting incident Sunday, December 12 about 5:34 p.m. He was first taken to Margaret Mary Community Hospital in Batesville and later transferred to University Hospital in Cincinnati with injuries that are not life threatening, according to law enforcement.

According to information from DNR Public Information Officer Gary Catron, the incident took place when Huntington was hunting with a friend near County Road 100 E south of State Road 48.

Huntington received an injury to his right upper thigh when the barrel of his friend’s firearm blew up when he fired. Indiana Conservation Officer Steve Miller is the investigating officer and noted, “an obstructed firearm barrel is being investigated as a possible contributing factor.”

Conservation officers remind hunters that it doesn’t take much debris in a firearm barrel to cause it to fail. Even a small amount of snow in the end of a barrel can cause it to explode when fired.

“Before attempting to clear any barrel obstruction make sure the firearm is completely unloaded and proper cleaning tools are used,” noted Catron in a press release.

Also responding with Indiana Conservation Officers at the scene were officers from the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office and Rescue 69.