Hunter is shot while dragging deer in woods

HANOVERTON -- Preliminary indications are that the shooting of a hunter during the opening day of deer gun season was an accident.
Although the Columbiana County Sheriff's Department is still investigating Monday's shooting of a Leetonia-area man, it appears that the wounding was caused by the unintentional firing of a shotgun, chief Deputy Pete Whitmore said this morning.
Kenny Crowell, age and address unavailable, was in critical condition this morning in St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center in Youngstown.
Crowell was taken to the hospital by emergency helicopter from the shooting scene off Campbell Road in Hanover Township.
Crowell was shot about 11:30 a.m. as he and about four others were dragging a dead deer killed by a hunter, Whitmore explained.
One of the men in the party, also of the Leetonia area, was helping drag the animal and was also holding his 12-gauge shotgun.
The firearm discharged, sending a slug into Crowell's lower stomach, Whitmore said.
When authorities arrived, Crowell's companions were administering first aid.