A man is recovering from an injury to his left hand after his rifle accidentally discharged while he was hunting.

Suffolk police received a call from a motorist in the 1300 block of Portsmouth Boulevard about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Upon arrival, they found John David Spring, 57, lying on the side of the road suffering from a severe gunshot wound to his left hand, city spokeswoman Debbie George said.

Officers located his six-wheel Polaris ATV in a ditch at the entrance to the Sadisco business, George said. They also found a shotgun lying on a path a short distance away.

The victim told police during an interview that he was hunting on a path that runs parallel to the train tracks when his shotgun, which had been in a carrying case strapped to the vehicle’s cargo area, came loose and fell into the path, discharging into his left hand.

He attempted to drive to the roadway for help, but lost control of the vehicle and backed into a ditch. He then walked to the road to get help, George added.