Hunting accident claims life of Hubbell man

A Hubbell man was accidently shot and killed while hunting early Sunday morning, Nov. 13, the second day of rifle season. David R. Donan, 69, of Hubbell, was hunting near the village when he was shot by his hunting partner George McLeod, 72, also of Hubbell, just before sunrise.

According to a statement released by Thayer County Attorney Daniel L. Werner, McLeod said he shot at what he believed to be a deer and upon walking to the area where the deer should have been, found he had wounded his friend and hunting companion.

Donan was rushed by rescue unit to Thayer County Health Services in Hebron where he died while waiting for a life-flight helicopter to transport him to a Lincoln hospital.

Werner said he determined the shooting to be accidental and no charges would be filed.

According to Werner’s statement, Donan was dressed in blaze orange as required by Nebraska hunting laws. McLeod was hunting with a Marlin 30-30 rifle when the accident occurred. Contributing factors were that the shooting occurred during the predawn hours shortly after shooting was permitted, and a failure to identify the target which was assumed to be a deer, Werner stated in the release.

Residents of Hubbell said Donan was the mayor of their village and president of the local Lions Club.