Monterey man shoots self in arm while cleaning gun

Posted Thursday, September 20, 2018 2:15 pm

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MONTEREY — A town man was airlifted to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield on Wednesday after he shot himself in the arm while cleaning a gun.

The man, 70, whose identity has not been released, was "conscious and alert" when he was placed in the helicopter, according to town Police Sgt. Brian Fahey.

Monterey firemen applied a tourniquet to the man's arm shortly after the 2 p.m. incident. He was flown by a Life Star helicopter, which landed in a field at the corner of Main and Stevens Lake roads.

The incident is being investigated as an accident, Fahey said. The man was sitting at his table cleaning the firearm when it discharged.

Fahey declined to specify what sort of gun it was.

The Southern Berkshire Volunteer Ambulance Squad and Great Barrington Police also responded.

Fahey offered words of caution to firearm owners.

"You should always treat guns as if they are loaded," he said.

Heather Bellow can be reached at hbellow@berkshireeagle.com or on Twitter @BE_hbellow and 413-329-6871.