July 20, 2010
Oak limb hit by shotgun blast falls on squirrel hunter, killing him
CHICO – A man reportedly hunting squirrels on his employer’s ranch north of Chico was killed Monday morning when he fired a shotgun shell that hit a large oak limb, causing it to fall onto his head, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.
Co-workers discovered the body of Chico resident Joaquin Medina lying unconscious beside an ATV about 11:40 a.m. The bizarre accident took place on a private road west of Cana Highway, off White Deer Lane.
Sheriff’s deputies reached the remote location near the Tehama County line at 12:30 p.m. and pronounced Medina dead.
According to a Sheriff’s Office press release, the victim suffered major head trauma.
Emergency crews from Cal Fire-Butte County were initially told the accident involved a motorcycle hitting a tree.
The California Highway Patrol responded to the accident initially, then turned the investigation over to the Coroner’s Office. It wasn’t immediately disclosed if the incident would be investigated by Cal-OSHA as an industrial accident.