Indiana man dies from accidental gunshot in Lemhi County

SALMON, Idaho (KIFI) — A 31-year-old Indiana man died Saturday night after accidentally shooting himself while camping in Lemhi County.

Around 9 p.m., the Lemhi County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call reporting an accidental gunshot wound in the Moose Creek/Haystack Mountain Road area. Authorities later identified the victim as 31-year-old Seth Nicholas Pritchard.

The caller told deputies Pritchard was alone inside a tent changing clothes when his handgun accidentally discharged, striking him in the chest. His camping party quickly dressed the wound and called emergency services while Pritchard was still conscious.

Lemhi County Sheriff’s deputies, a Salmon City police officer, Salmon Ambulance, and an Air Idaho Life Flight helicopter responded to the scene. By the time deputies arrived, Pritchard had lost consciousness and no longer had a pulse. His camping group had already begun CPR when deputies arrived at the campsite.

Because the helicopter was unable to land at the campsite, responders continued CPR, coordinating to move Pritchard to meet the medical team. Despite prolonged lifesaving efforts, Pritchard was pronounced dead at the scene.

The shooting remains under investigation by the Lemhi County Sheriff's Office.