An accidental shotgun blast wounded a 10-year-old girl Wednesday, according to the Faribault County Sheriff’s Department.

Friday, March 30, 2001

An accidental shotgun blast wounded a 10-year-old girl Wednesday, according to the Faribault County Sheriff’s Department.

Ashley Dufrene of Foster Township south of Wells was taken by ambulance to Naeve Hospital where she was triaged and stabilized before transport to Rochester Methodist Hospital.

According to Mayo Clinic Communications, Dufrene was listed in fair condition Thursday morning. Family members reported that more than 50 pellets were removed from the girl’s arm during surgery. She is expected to be released by Monday.

Dufrene’s younger brother was showing her the gun when it accidentally discharged, said Faribault County Sheriff Scott Campbell.

Campbell, who was in Wells Wednesday, was among the first on the scene after the 911 call came in to dispatch. He said the situation wasn’t critical because the girl was extremely lucky. The shotgun was loaded with #8 birdshot, and the wound was almost totally limited to the girl’s arm.

&uot;We’re very relieved,&uot; Campbell said. &uot;When you get a call like that all kinds of things go racing through your mind.&uot;

Campbell said the incident was reported at 4:27 p.m. Along with the responding ambulance and Campbell, Wells police officers and the Minnesota State Patrol also investigated the incident.