Bedford County Man Killed in Hunting Accident

A man suffered fatal injuries in an apparent hunting accident in Bedford County Tuesday morning.

Elisha Cheek Jr., 71, of Bedford County, was hunting groundhogs behind his house with a shotgun. Cheek apparently was attempting to climb over a wood-rail fence when his shotgun accidently discharged and he shot himself, said Maj. Ricky Gardner.

Deputies responded to the call regarding a gunshot victim at the 1700 block of Oregon Trail, about seven miles south of Bedford near Falling Creek Road.

Cheek was pronounced dead at the scene, Gardner said.

After an investigation into the incident, the death was ruled accidental.