Many people dont realize how common hunting accidents really are, since they usually go unpublicized and very often go unreported. That was until 2006, when then-Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot a hunting partner while quail hunting in Texas. CBS News reported that wealthy attorney Harry Whittington, 78, (also a campaign contributor) was hit in the cheek, neck and chest by several pellets of birdshot.
The incident was not reported publicly by the Vice Presents office for almost 24 hours, and then was only locally reported by the Corpus Christi Caller-Times on its Web site while Whittington was in intensive care at a Corpus Christi hospital.
According to the ranchs owner, Katharine Armstrong, Whittington was alert and doing fine, it was unknown why he was in the ICU. Armstrong continued, stating [The pellets] broke the skin. It knocked him silly. But he was fine. He was talking. His eyes were open. It didnt get in his eyes or anything like that.
Armstrong told a CBS reporter that Cheney was using a 28-gauge shotgun and that Whittington was about 30 yards away from Cheney at the time of the hit. Each of the hunters was wearing a bright orange vest for safety. Armstrong said she was watching from a car while Cheney, Whittington and another hunter got out of the vehicle to shoot at a covey of quail.
Whittington shot a quail and went to retrieve it in the tall grass, while Cheney and the third hunter discovered a second covey. Whittington came up from behind the vice president and the other hunter and didnt signal them or indicate to them or announce himself, Armstrong said.
The vice president didnt see him, she continued. The covey flushed and the vice president picked out a bird and was following it and shot. And by god, Harry was in the line of fire and got peppered pretty good.
Cheney is an avid hunter who makes annual trips to South Dakota to hunt pheasants. He also travels frequently to Arkansas to hunt ducks, and visits Armstrongs ranch in Texas once a year to hunt quail.
Armstrong was quoted saying that Cheney is a very safe sportsman and that he was very apologetic about the accident. She concluded her interview by stating this is something that happens from time to time. You know, Ive been peppered pretty well myself.
If youve been involved in a hunting accident you could be entitled to a settlement. Please contact an experienced Waco and Killeen personal injury attorney to learn more.
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