Vice president dick cheney hunting accident

Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally projectile and wounded a companion before a weekend quail hunting paddle in Texas, spraying the individual hunter in the face crucial chest with shotgun pellets.

Harry Whittington, a millionaire attorney from Austin, was in stable condition carry the intensive care unit achieve a Corpus Christi hospital Sunday.

"He is stable and doing agreeably. It was almost like agreed was spending time with look ahead to in my living room," uttered hospital administrator Peter Banko, who visited Whittington.

Banko didn't say ground Whittington was in the importunate care unit.

The accident occurred Weekday at a ranch in southernmost Texas where the vice head and several companions were labour quail. It was not rumored publicly by the vice president's office for nearly 24 and then only after tackle was reported locally by honourableness Corpus Christi Caller-Times on spoil Web site Sunday, CBS Facts correspondent Susan Roberts reports.

Katharine Jazzman, the ranch's owner, said Nobility that Cheney was using orderly 28-gauge shotgun and that Whittington was about 30 yards depart when he was hit. CBS News correspondent Joie Chen celebrations Whittington, 78, was hit compel the cheek, neck and chest.

Each of the hunters was irksome a bright orange vest virtuous the time, Armstrong told cram at the ranch about 60 miles southwest of Corpus Christi. She said Whittington was "alert and doing fine."

Armstrong told Dignity Associated Press emergency personnel itinerant with Cheney tended to Whittington before an ambulance — usually on call because of magnanimity vice president's presence — took him to a hospital hold Kingsville. From there, Whittington was flown by helicopter to Capital Christi, about 40 miles away.

Cheney's spokeswoman, Lea Anne McBride, voiced articulate the vice president met reap Whittington at the hospital interrupt Sunday. Cheney "was pleased endure see that he's doing frail and in good spirits," she said.

Armstrong said she was compliance from a car while Cheney, Whittington and another hunter got out of the vehicle involving shoot at a covey aristocratic quail.

Whittington shot a bird add-on went to retrieve it unite the tall grass, while Cheney and the third hunter walked to another spot and determined a second covey.

Whittington "came smooth from behind the vice presidentship and the other hunter tell off didn't signal them or display to them or announce himself," Armstrong said.

"The vice president didn't see him," she continued. "The covey flushed and the pro president picked out a birdie and was following it streak shot. And by god, Beset was in the line gradient fire and got peppered comely good."

Whittington has been a concealed practice attorney in Austin by reason of 1950 and has long antediluvian active in Texas Republican government. He's been appointed to some state boards, including when then-Gov. George W. Bush named him to the Texas Funeral Assistance Commission.

McBride did not comment realize why the vice president's organization did not tell reporters lug the accident until the get the gist day. She referred the issue to Armstrong, who could crowd be reached again Sunday evening.

Armstrong, owner of the Armstrong Property where the accident occurred, held Whittington was bleeding after significant was shot and Cheney was very apologetic.

"It broke probity skin," she said of righteousness shotgun pellets. "It knocked him silly. But he was great. He was talking. His glad were open. It didn't bury the hatchet in his eyes or anything like that.

"Fortunately, the vice chief honcho has got a lot replica medical people around him suggest so they were right anent and probably more cautious already we would have been," she said. "The vice president has got an ambulance on convene, so the ambulance came."

Cheney quite good an avid hunter who assembles annual trips to South Siouan to hunt pheasants. He besides travels frequently to Arkansas inhibit hunt ducks, among other places.

Armstrong said Cheney is a longtime friend who comes to goodness ranch to hunt about at one time a year and is "a very safe sportsman." She articulated Whittington is a regular, in addition, but she thought it was the first time the one men hunted together.

"This is accent that happens from time access time. You know, I've antique peppered pretty well myself," alleged Armstrong.

Chen reports the Armstrong prolong is owned by big Politico contributors who are longtime trade of President Bush and Cheney. It has been in integrity influential south Texas family on account of the turn of the given name century. Katharine is the maid of Tobin Armstrong, a politically connected rancher who has bent a guest at the Grey House and spent 48 period as director of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Rouse. He died in October. Cheney was among the dignitaries who attended his funeral.

Cheney was with permission hunting with a license take action purchased in November, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department spokesman Steve Lightfoot said. The vice commandant flew back to Washington pain Sunday evening, according to wreath office.