ATVs and shotguns can be a hazardous mix. When 36-year-old George M. Banks set out to hunt waterfowl with his two children on Monday in Esopus, he put one of his loaded shotguns on the back of his four-wheeler, where it got tangled up in some netting. Later, when Banks pulled on the shotgun to free it, it fired and hit him in the arm. Here's the full press release from the Ulster County Sheriff's Office:
Detectives from the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office report investigating a hunting accident on November 8th, 2010 on private property off River Road in the Town of Esopus.
At 4:05 PM a call was received at the 911 emergency dispatch center for a man who had been shot. Deputies arrived on the scene shortly thereafter and learned that George M. Banks Sr., age 36, of 20 St. Josephs Blvd., Port Ewen, had accidentally shot himself in the arm.
It was learned that Mr. Banks had set off to go duck and goose hunting with his two children at about 3:30 PM. While getting ready to hunt he had loaded three shotguns and laid one of them on a four wheeler. When he picked the gun back up it had apparently gotten stuck in some netting that was on the four wheeler and when he pulled on it to retrieve it, the shotgun fired and struck him under his right arm.
Mr. Banks was transported to the Town of Esopus Ambulance Squad on Route 9W where he was transported to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, by helicopter for a non-life threatening gunshot wound to his arm.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by members of the NYS Environmental Conversation Department. Although no tickets were issued at the scene, the incident is still under investigation.
Date of incident: 11/08/10 Time: 4:05 PM
