Child injured when family's car accidentally shot

CARUTHERSVILLE - An child was wounded when her family's vehicle was apparently accidentally shot at while traveling on Interstate 55 Saturday.

At approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday, personnel from a hospital in Blytheville, Ark., contacted the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department advising officers an 11-year-old female was being treated in their emergency room for a gunshot wound to the neck. The family reported to authorities the shooting had occurred on Interstate 55 near the two mile marker in Missouri.

According to Pemiscot County Sheriff Tommy Greenwell, deputies interviewed the family at the hospital. The Kirksville, Mo., family told officers while they were traveling south on Interstate 55 as part of their vacation, the driver's side window suddenly blew out.

"The first thought was the heat caused it, however the 11-year-old was in the back seat and began complaining of pain in her neck," Greenwell said in a news release. "It was determined she had been shot with a 9mm round."

Evidence gathered at the scene indicates the shot came from a northbound vehicle on I-55.

Deputies were contacted Sunday by an individual who was shooting his pistol Saturday afternoon about the same time the victim was shot.

Greenwell reported preliminary investigation indicates where the shots were fired if one missed the berm it would be in line with I-55. Two pistols were turned over to deputies for ballistic test by the crime lab.

"At this time we feel this probably a terrible accident and no other persons are in danger," Greenwell said.

The victim was flown to LeBonuer Children's Hospital in Memphis, where she is expected to under go surgery Sunday.