Child hit in neck by stray bullet along Interstate 55

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- A child was wounded Saturday when her family's vehicle apparently was accidentally shot while traveling along Interstate 55.

About 6:30 p.m., personnel from a hospital in Blytheville, Arkansas, contacted the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department, advising officers an 11-year-old girl 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 2-mile marker in Missouri.

Pemiscot County Sheriff Tommy Greenwell said deputies interviewed the family at the hospital.

The Kirksville, Missouri, family told officers they were traveling south on Interstate 55 as part of their vacation when 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 9 mm round."

Evidence gathered at the scene indicated the shot came from the northbound side of Interstate 55.

Deputies were contacted Sunday by a person shooting his pistol Saturday afternoon about the same time the victim was shot.

Greenwell said the preliminary investigation indicates where the shots were fired. If one missed a protective berm, it would be in line with I-55. Two pistols were turned over to deputies for ballistic testing by the crime lab.

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

The victim was flown to Le Bonuer Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Greenwell reported Sunday evening the victim was released, and the family continued on its vacation.