NRP Investigates Two Deer Hunting Accidents

Annapolis, Maryland (October 22, 2010) - The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) investigates two hunting accidents that occurred on Friday October 22, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

At 10:00 am, NRP responded to Charles Boyles Road in Queen Anne’s County to investigate a fatal deer hunting accident. The investigation revealed that James Albert Newberry, age 75 from Edgewater, Md, was found deceased at the base of a tree by a hunting companion. Newberry’s ladder style tree stand was found broken and detached from the tree. Newberry was not wearing a safety harness at the time of the accident. The body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s in Baltimore for autopsy. NRP’s Special Operations Division is continuing the investigation in the cause of the accident.

The second hunting accident occurred at 12:40 pm on Willey’s Neck Road, Crapo, Dorchester County. NRP’s investigation revealed that Phillip Councell, age 25 from Cordova, Md was deer hunting with a muzzle loading rifle. Councell attempted to load the rifle by packing black powder into the barrel with a ramrod. The muzzle loader discharged which caused the ramrod to severely injury Councell. A hunting companion, Howard Thomas Callahan, age 25 from Cordova witness the accident. Callahan is a paramedic and rendered aid and called 911 for medical assistance. Due to the remote location of the accident and the extent of injuries suffered by Councell, Callahan requested a helicopter evacuation. Maryland State Police helicopters with Salisbury City Fire Department personnel responded to the scene and airlifted Councell to Peninsula Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Maryland Natural Resources Police recommends the wearing of a safety restraint system while hunting from elevated sands. The safety restraints system could prevent injury or death from a fall. Tree stand and firearm safety tips at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/huntersafety.asp.

The Maryland Natural Resources Police is the enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). With an authorized strength of 247 officers and a dedicated staff of civilian and volunteer personnel, the NRP provide a variety of services in addition to conservation and boating law enforcement duties throughout the State of Maryland. These services include homeland security, search and rescue, emergency medical services, education, information and communications services on a round the clock basis. NRP is the only police force aside from the Maryland State Police that has statewide jurisdiction.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 461,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov