http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/ci_3762786
Ashburnham man shot by fellow hunter
By Jonathan Graham
ASHBURNHAM -- A man shot a fellow hunter and Ashburnham resident early Thursday morning in what is initially being called an accident, District Attorney John Conte said in a press release.
Rescue workers transported Yvom J. Bastarche, 49, to a Worcester hospital, "where he is expected to recover from his wounds," Conte said in the release.
Officials took Bastarche by LifeFlight helicopter to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester with gunshot wounds to the abdomen, according to an Ashburnham police press release.
There is no record of Bastarche arriving at UMass Memorial, a hospital spokeswoman said Thursday afternoon.
Witnesses said the accident occurred while Bastarche and his friend, Athol resident James Casella, 64, hunted for turkeys off Winchendon Road at about 6 a.m., according to Conte's release.
"The two friends had separated while hunting and during that time Mr. Casella accidentally shot Mr. Bastarche," Conte said in the release.
State Police Ballistics and Crime Scene Services, the Ashburnham Police Department and the state Environmental Police are investigating the incident, Conte said.
Ashburnham and environmental police both directed questions about the shooting to Conte's office.
There are about two to three hunting-relating shooting accidents in Massachusetts every year, said Susan Langloise, who administers the Hunter Education Program for the Massachusetts Division of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"The risk is quite low, and it's usually in the same hunting party," Langloise said of shooting accidents.
Langloise said there was a fatal hunting-related shooting last year, which was the first one in 13 years.
Langloise said there are easy ways for hunters to prevent shooting accidents.
She cited "muzzle control" at all times, correctly identifying your target and keeping your finger off the trigger as easy safety methods.
"These are very common rules when we teach students," Langloise said.
Ashburnham man shot by fellow hunter
By Jonathan Graham
ASHBURNHAM -- A man shot a fellow hunter and Ashburnham resident early Thursday morning in what is initially being called an accident, District Attorney John Conte said in a press release.
Rescue workers transported Yvom J. Bastarche, 49, to a Worcester hospital, "where he is expected to recover from his wounds," Conte said in the release.
Officials took Bastarche by LifeFlight helicopter to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester with gunshot wounds to the abdomen, according to an Ashburnham police press release.
There is no record of Bastarche arriving at UMass Memorial, a hospital spokeswoman said Thursday afternoon.
Witnesses said the accident occurred while Bastarche and his friend, Athol resident James Casella, 64, hunted for turkeys off Winchendon Road at about 6 a.m., according to Conte's release.
"The two friends had separated while hunting and during that time Mr. Casella accidentally shot Mr. Bastarche," Conte said in the release.
State Police Ballistics and Crime Scene Services, the Ashburnham Police Department and the state Environmental Police are investigating the incident, Conte said.
Ashburnham and environmental police both directed questions about the shooting to Conte's office.
There are about two to three hunting-relating shooting accidents in Massachusetts every year, said Susan Langloise, who administers the Hunter Education Program for the Massachusetts Division of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"The risk is quite low, and it's usually in the same hunting party," Langloise said of shooting accidents.
Langloise said there was a fatal hunting-related shooting last year, which was the first one in 13 years.
Langloise said there are easy ways for hunters to prevent shooting accidents.
She cited "muzzle control" at all times, correctly identifying your target and keeping your finger off the trigger as easy safety methods.
"These are very common rules when we teach students," Langloise said.
