SPRINGFIELD

— A bleeding man told police he was driving himself to the hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to the leg, but when detectives show up to interview him, he is not there.

State Police Sgt. Richard Gawron said a Springfield Barracks trooper stopped a speeding vehicle shortly before 4 a.m. Saturday in the westbound lane of I-291. As he interacted with the driver he noticed the man bleeding from a wound to the hip. The wounded man told the trooper he was driving himself to the Baystate Medical Center to get help, and that was why he was speeding.

Gawron said the man refused to say how he was wounded or who shot him, only to say it was a shot from a BB gun. The trooper however was not convinced that the wound he saw was a BB gun wound, given the extent of bleeding. But, the trooper was unable to convince the injured man to wait for an ambulance and medical care, and since he was alert and coherent, Gawron said the trooper had no choice but to let him go on his way.

Local police were notified of the contact with the man and they were filled in on his plans as relayed to the trooper. Springfield Police Lt. Henry Gagnon said detectives were dispatched to the hospital to interview the victim. However, when they got to the emergency room, they were told no one with a leg wound had been in for treatment.

Gagnon said police are checking with surrounding hospitals to see if he went for treatment somewhere else.