Provo woman dies in accidental shooting

SPRINGVILLE — A 19-year-old Provo woman died Sunday after a gun accidentally discharged in a parking lot at a 7-Eleven store, striking her in the abdomen.

Springville Police Lt. Dave Caron said that a couple who are believed to be Provo residents had been camping over the weekend in Hobble Creek Canyon and stopped in Springville about 11:45 a.m. Sunday to buy something at the convenience store, 206 N. Main. They made their purchase, and as the man was opening the car door for the woman to get in, a .22-caliber revolver fell out of the door. As it struck the ground, it discharged, shooting her in the lower torso.

The woman, who has not been identified pending notification of family, was transported to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, where she later died.

Police are still investigating and "we don't have a lot of details yet," Caron said, other than when the gun fell on the pavement, "there was a round behind the firing pin and it went off."

It appears to be accidental, he said.

— Lois M. Collins