CHINA — A Waterville man was taken for hospital treatment Tuesday morning after his wife accidentally shot him in the face while turkey hunting in China.

Reginald Jacques, 60, of Waterville, was hunting with his wife, Janice Jacques, in a wooded area of Danforth Road in China when the mid-morning shooting occurred, according to the Maine Warden Service. Wardens were called about the shooting at approximately 10:25 a.m.

According to investigators, Janice Jacques fired her shotgun loaded for turkey and inadvertently struck her husband in the face and arm. Jacques’ injuries aren’t believed to be life threatening, according to wardens.

It wasn’t clear what Janice Jacques was aiming at when she fired the gun, and investigators are still trying to piece together what happened, according to Cpl. John MacDonald of the Warden Service.

“We don’t really know for sure what she was shooting at,” MacDonald said in an interview Tuesday afternoon. “Obviously, she didn’t want to shoot her husband.”

The couple were in their vehicle headed west to a hospital on Route 136, also known as China Road, when they encountered Winslow Police Officer Scott Christiansen, who was conducting a traffic stop near the intersection of North Pond Road, according to Winslow Police Detective Ron McGowen.

Christiansen assisted the wounded Jacques and called for emergency help from Winslow Fire and Rescue and Delta Ambulance. Jacques was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta by ambulance and Janice Jacques, who was very upset, was taken to the hospital separately by Winslow Police Chief Shawn O’Leary, McGowen said.

Reginald Jacques was wounded in the cheek and arm by a shot from a 12-gauge shotgun, according to David Ross of the Warden Service, who was at the scene where the couple left their pickup truck after being taken to the hospital. The shot missed Reginald Jacques’ eye, Ross said. Ross was inspecting two firearms and camouflage gear Reginald and Janice Jacques had in their vehicle.

The couple were being interviewed by the warden service at the hospital and are “cooperating fully” with the investigation, according to MacDonald.

Peter McGuire — 861-9239

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Twitter: @PeteL_McGuire

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