Woman shot in hunting accident. Boalsburg resident struck in face, eye while walking dog STATE COLLEGE — A 54-year-old Boalsburg woman is hospitalized after being shot in the eye and left side of her face early Wednesday morning in what officials say appears to be a turkey hunting accident.
Officials say Elizabeth Strickler was walking dogs with a friend around 6:45 a.m. in a wooded area near Tussey Mountain Ski Area when a 53-year-old Boalsburg man who was hunting nearby shot her with his shotgun.
State College police said she was near Bear Meadows Road in Harris Township. They were called to the scene, but later turned over the investigation to the state Game Commission after finding that the shooting was “non-intentional” and likely a hunting accident.
“The shooter saw movement, shot once and struck the victim,” said state Game Commission spokesman Jerry Feaser.
The name of the man wasn’t released by investigators.
Strickler was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center, then transferred to Hershey Medical Center, where she was in fair condition Wednesday evening.
State College police characterized her injuries as “serious.” There were pellets in the left side of her face and in her left eye, Feaser said.
Feaser said the alleged shooter came to Strickler’s aid immediately after the shooting.
The Game Commission is a law enforcement body with the authority to file criminal charges if an investigation finds that to be appropriate.
Anyone with information, or anyone who witnessed the incident, is asked to call the Game Commission’s north central regional office at 570-398-4744, or State College police at 234-7150. Anonymous tips may be submitted on the Web at
www.statecollegepa.us.
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