Tehachapi News

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A pedestrian traffic accident at Valley Boulevard and Aspen Drive that injured a 62-year-old legally blind woman and killed her service dog remains under investigation, Tehachapi Police Chief Jeff Kermode said.

“We haven't determined fault,” he said. “But the law is pretty strong in favor of a blind person.”

He said, on the other hand, that a seeing eye dog “is supposed to judge traffic.”

The intersection is midway between Curry and Tucker, streets where the closest traffic signal lights are. The section of Valley Boulevard where the accident took place has no painted crosswalk and is where two north-south streets, Aspen Drive and Mountain View, are offset and do not line up.

Diane Deutsch, the injured pedestrian, said in a report on KGET Channel 17 that she had asked the city to put in a cross walk at the location and that she could not bring herself to venture across the street there again.

According to City Manager Greg Garrett, the area is one of the sites the city has identified in its long-term planning and “we are trying to signalize.”

Garrett said he knows of no other accidents that have been reported at the site.

Deutsch and her service dog, a Laborador Retriever named Aki, were crossing Valley Boulevard northbound to Aspen at 7 p.m. on August 23 when they were struck by a westbound Toyota Corolla driven by Alexander John Hughes, 19, of Tehachapi.
Police said that Deustsch received emergency treatment at the scene and was flown by helicopter to Kern Medical Center. Her injuries included a broken wrist and facial bruises.

Police took Aki to a veterinarian, where he died of internal injuries.

Hughes remained at the scene and was interviewed by officers.

Police are seeking additional witnesses to the accident. Anyone with information is asked to call Tehachapi Police Department Senior Officer Scott Ketcham, 661-822-2222, ext. 113.