IL: Fairfield Man Killed in Hunting Accident

Fairfield Man Dies in Hunting Accident

Oct 4, 2009

WAYNE COUNTY- Illinois State Police are investigating the death of a Fairfield man killed in a hunting accident Thursday night. It was around 6:45 on Thursday evening when 20 yr. Old Aaron Long and his 16 yr. Old friend were hunting turkeys here down this path at Sam Dale Lake in rural Wayne County, but just minutes later, the 16 year old friend made a fatal mistake.

Wayne County Sheriff Jim Hinkle says, "He believed he was shooting at a turkey, and after shooting he quickly realized that he had shot his friend." Hinkle says the 20 year old didn't live long after the shot.

The arrow pierced Long in the left side of his back near his heart. Shortly after the accident his friend found a group of hunters and they called 9-1-1.

The sheriff says because it was an accident- It's unlikely the young man will be charged, "It's just an extreme tragedy and this young man and the families of everybody involved is something they got to live with for the rest of their lives."

Sheriff Hinkle adds that a hunting accident like this hasn't occurred in Wayne County in several years, but he recommends that no matter how old you are or how long you've been hunting, that you should take a hunters safety course to prevent accidents like this from happening.

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