Tiffin man shot in hunting accident

PHOTO BY JILL GOSCHE Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Seneca County Sheriff's Office officials walk toward the woods where the accident occurred Saturday. PHOTO BY JILL GOSCHE Life Flight leaves the scene of a hunting accident near TR 175 and CR 38 Saturday morning. A Tiffin man was transported by Life Flight to Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center after a hunting accident in a woods near TR 175 and CR 38 Saturday morning. Deputy Mark Lawson of Seneca County Sheriff's Office said friends Ray Matthews and Marty McQuistion, both of Tiffin, were hunting squirrels when Matthews accidentally shot McQuistion. "They came together," he said. McQuistion, who was shot once in his upper body, was taken by Life Flight to Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center. He was in critical condition Saturday night, a hospital spokeswoman said. McQuistion was alert and conscious at the scene, Lawson said. Lawson said Matthews shot at a squirrel, the squirrel ran and popped back up, and Matthews shot again. He didn't think his friend was that close, Seneca County Sheriff Bill Eckelberry said. "He was focused on the squirrel," Eckelberry said. The men were using shotguns, and Matthews said they were about 50 feet apart, Lawson said. Personnel from North Central EMS, Green Springs Rural Volunteer Fire Department, Scipio-Republic Fire Department, Seneca County Sheriff's Office and Ohio Department of Natural Resources responded. Eckelberry said the sheriff's office turned over the scene to ODNR to conduct the investigation. The incident was reported at 10:37 a.m., according to a sheriff's office report.