(WABASH COUNTY) - A north-central Indiana man was hospitalized Saturday evening after being struck by his own arrow when his crossbow accidentally discharged while he was hunting, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
The 49-year-old Sharpsville man was hunting on property near Mississinewa Lake when the incident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. Investigators say the man was packing up his equipment when his crossbow became caught in brush as he lifted it from a shooting rest, causing the weapon to fire.
The discharged arrow struck the man in the left thigh, resulting in what DNR officials described as a severe laceration.
Despite the injury, the man was able to get into his truck and drive several miles to a Sweetser Dollar General store, where emergency responders were notified at 6:41 p.m., more than 30 minutes after the accident.
A Wabash County EMS unit transported the man to a hospital for treatment. The DNR said he has since been treated and released.
Conservation officers remind hunters to use caution when handling loaded weapons, particularly when navigating brush or uneven terrain.