YAKIMA SHERIFF’S OFFICE PRESS RELEASE

Date of Press Release: November 1, 2009

Date of incident: October 31, 2009
Time of incident: 0830 hours
Location:  Forest Service 1203 Road (aka: Fish Creek Road) south of Rimrock Lake.

Incident Type:  Hunting Accident

The Yakima County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a hunting accident in the area of Fish Creek Road in Yakima County Washington.  Personnel from the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, Naches Fire Department, Advanced Life Systems Ambulance, Washington State Department of Fish & Wild Life, Life Flight Network, and Yakima County Search & Rescue responded to the incident. 

The preliminary investigation revealed a 68 year old male from Colfax, Washington had been hunting elk approximately one half mile east of Fish Creek Road. The male subject was walking in an area where the un-even terrain consisted of a clay type mud making foot travel very slick and difficult.  The male subject slipped while he was walking.  When the male subject slipped, the firearm he was carrying discharged, causing him to receive a self inflicted gun shot wound to his lower left leg.  The male subject was able to call his hunting partners for help using his FRS radio.  Emergency personnel on scene along with other hunters in the area were able to haul the male subject out on a litter to the awaiting Advanced Life Systems Ambulance.  The ambulance then transported him to a Life Flight Network helicopter that was standing by at the Tieton emergency airstrip.  The helicopter then transported the male subject to a local hospital in Yakima.

The male subject did not wish his name to be released to the public.

Incident # 09-19364.

Contact Person:  Brad Martin

                           Outdoor Recreation Deputy
                           (509) 574-2525