Hunting Accident In Green Ridge State Forest
FLINTSTONE, MD – Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) and State Forest and Park Service Rangers are investigating a turkey hunting accident that occurred early this morning in Green Ridge State Forest near the intersection of Picklick Rd. and 15 Mile Creek Rd.
At approximately 6:45 AM Thomas Nelson Lee, 34, and his 9-year-old son were shot by George Hegedus, 63, of 1507 Northam Ct., Bel Air, Md, by a shotgun with e #5 size shot that contains approximately 170 pellets.
Hegedus had been sitting stationary with two plastic turkey decoys when he made a turkey call which he thought was returned by a turkey but was in fact returned by the victims. Hegedus was approximately 60 to 70 yards away from the victims when he fired one shot. All three hunters were wearing full camouflage. Upon hearing the younger Lee cry out that he had been hit, Hegedus drove to the nearby juvenile detention center and called 911. A third person in the victims’ hunting party also called 911 from his cell phone.
The elder Lee suffered two pellet wounds while his son sustained six pellet wounds including one to the head, which did not penetrate the skull. Both victims are being treated and are expected to be released today.
Charges are pending the outcome of the investigation.
Update May 6, 2004: Thomas Nelson Lee and his son, both from Rising Sun, Md., were treated and released from Cumberland Memorial Hospital on Friday, May 30, 2004.
Posted April 30, 2004