A 46-year-old Galax man was shot and injured Monday when his pistol discharged on a construction site for the U.S. 58 Bypass in Hillsville.

On Monday, March 15, the Hillsville Police Department was dispatched to a reported shooting on the U.S. 58 construction site, located near Exit 14 off Interstate 77 in Hillsville. Due to the unknown nature of the shooting, members of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia State Police also responded, Hillsville Police Chief Steve Williams noted in a press release.

Upon arrival, officers determined that the victim, Theodore Clayton Fortune, 46, had been wounded when a pistol he had in his truck accidentally discharged. Carroll EMS responded to the scene and began treating the victim, who was eventually flown to Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C. Details of Fortune’s condition were unknown as of press time Tuesday morning.

Williams said the Hillsville Police Department has received a number of calls from concerned citizens who have heard a variety of rumors regarding this incident.

“While this incident is very unfortunate, at no time was the public in danger,” Williams said.

“We are currently working with the contractor and have been assured that company policy strictly prohibits the possession of firearms on the jobsite. We firmly believe that this is an isolated incident.”