DUNKIRK — A hunter whose rifle round traveled the length of five football fields before striking a school bus in rural western New York will be charged with reckless endangerment and criminal mischief, state police said Wednesday.
The hunter, who wasn't immediately identified, was expected to turn himself in to state police to face the misdemeanor counts, as well as a Department of Environmental Conservation violation for firing across a highway, Capt. Steven Graap said. He was expected to be issued an appearance ticket for a later date.
The hunter, described by authorities as experienced, fired one round at a deer from a tree stand Monday morning, missed and hit a school bus some 500 yards away on a road in Cattaraugus County. The driver and 35 students were unhurt when the .30-caliber round penetrated the bus door and lodged in the roofline between the driver and first seat, where a child was sitting, Graap said.
Investigators don't believe the hunter knew he'd struck the bus.
"We were spared a very tragic outcome," Maj. Christopher Cummings said.
Lt. Frank Lauricella of the DEC advised hunters to know the capability of their rifles that can send slugs several hundred yards past the target, and to know what's well beyond what they're aiming at.
Hunters are barred from using rifles in populous areas in New York, including Erie, Monroe, Onondaga and Albany counties, but their use is expanding elsewhere to help curb an exploding deer population. Rifles were allowed for the first time this year in Cortland, Wyoming and part of Chautauqua counties.
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