PORT MATILDA – A Port Matilda man was injured in an accidental shooting on Sunday.
According to Philipsburg-based state police, Bradley Fink was out walking in the woods behind his home in the fresh snow. Fink took a .22 rifle with him for protection due to a high concentration of coyotes believed to live in the area.
Fink came upon a snow-covered embankment in his yard and slipped, falling forward. The rifle discharged and the round grazed his left shoulder, passing just under the skin.
Fink drove himself to Tyrone Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. He was shortly released.
Upon investigating the scene police found that the rifle’s safety was not on.