[nagdu] Washington - Guide dog killed crossing Kennewick street

Sat Mar 20 19:48:55 UTC 2010

Albert,

Yeah, you would think O&M instructors would mention that...  I didn't hear
of the White Cane Laws until I was training a guide dog and joined the NAGDU
list in the hopes I would learn more about what I was trainign the dog to
do... /smile/  One of the better calls I've ever made!

There's awareness to be provided for both sides, I guess.  The blind white
cane or guide dog user, as well as the general public.

I hate the tragedy that occurred, hate that it could happen to me and my
precious one this very day when we cross the street to get our exercise and
enjoy the spring weather...

But these discussions are good, for me at least, because I always learn and
get a new perspective, and...  Since it is clear that getting adaptive tech
for my techie career is not going happen soon enough to make a difference,
I'm now in the final stages of planning to use writing as a profession
instead of an avocation....

So I love writing silly stories about my poodle guide and some of my
adventures learning to use the cane and...

But I'm relearning the greater demands of formal writing using nonvisual
tools and ways of organizing it, which is succenly almost too easy because
my brain isn't so fogged up by pain -- most of the time.  So I'm drafting
and outlining and even beginning articles on "issue awareness."  Still
awhile before I will really be able to use any of that effectively, but
these discussions are invaluable for those of us who *are* or who soon will
be in a position to add to the overall awareness for our own interest-based
communities and the larger public with whom we all interact.

It feels weird to me even thinking that way.  This man's tragedy -- and the
dog's loss of life in such a horrific way -- seem so intense that I feel
intrusive to their pain and his ongoing pain and grief by wondering how "We"
can "Use" it...  Still, this is the real world.  We have much work to do to
see that it doesn't happen to the next handler with the next dog.  And we
live in a culture (or perhaps species) where tragedy draws attention.

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Albert J Rizzi
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2010 7:02 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Washington - Guide dog killed crossing Kennewick street

I love what you wrote. Awareness and education is key here. I wonder how
many blind individuals are not themselves aware of the white cane law. I
know I only learned of the law in late 2007, you would have thought that
either my o&m instructor or the counselor  from the commission would have
drawn this law to my attention. No, I had to find out in a survey for what I
am not able to recall. but awareness is key. I recall that in nyc and in my
village there is a day when people line the streets with the names of those
killed in Iraq and overseas fighting against the Taliban when you see the
thousands of names strung together disappearing out of sight past the
horizon it really gives one a whole different perspective on the people who
lost their lives for our freedoms. I feel your thoughts would truly impact
the import of drivers being made aware, as well as those peoples being
protected by said law, could have on the awareness of this ground breaking
law.

Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
CEO/Founder
My Blind Spot, Inc.
90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
New York, New York  10004
www.myblindspot.org
PH: 917-553-0347
Fax: 212-858-5759
"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
doing it."

Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Steve Johnson
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2010 9:03 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Washington - Guide dog killed crossing Kennewick street

Speaking of, whatever happened with the gentleman from Southeast Minnesota
that was struck by a vehicle late last fall?  I just remember he was in ICU
and that was the last I had heard.  I will just refer back to my previous
email for all to think about and possibly develop further.  Marion, maybe
this is something we could take on as a National project with
NAGDU/NFB...White Cane Awareness/Memorial Day?  

Steven
-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie J
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2010 7:09 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Washington - Guide dog killed crossing Kennewick street

This is kinda morbid, but the police might be waiting to see if the man
lives or the extent of his injuries.  With that information they might be
able to charge the driver with more severe crimes.

Or the police might just be dilly-dallying, waiting for the media coverage
to subside and letting the driver off.

Julie

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tamara Smith-Kinney" <tamara.8024 at comcast.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 7:44 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Washington - Guide dog killed crossing Kennewick street

> Yikes!  I was so caught up in the place it happened, I almost didn't catch
> the part!  You raise really good questions.  Why *wasn't* the driver
> arrested and charged for nearly killing a pedestrian?  Especially a blind
> pedestrian?  And for killing the guide dog?
>
> The article does mention an investigation, but...  You have a point. 
> What's
> there to investigate, if they know who the driver is?
>
> We'll be hearing it on the news out here, I hope, so I'll pay attention 
> and
> keep track.  I'm in Oregon, not Washington, so I don't know exactly what
> they're guide dog protection act is like.  Or their traffic laws?  I lived
> in Washington, long ago when I was a driver myself, and just assumed if I
> was stupid enough to hit a pedestrian, it would turn out badly for me, 
> too.
> So I made it a point to watch where I was going, especially at street
> crossings.  Most people I know do the same.
>
> The white cane has a reflective quality that gives added protection to the
> cane user in darkness, but I noticed that my friend's harness from TSE 
> does
> have a reflective strip on the handle, at least.  Since I ordered mine
> custom made, I went nuts and got reflective tape every place possible. 
> Then
> again, when we nearly got hit in the cross walk that time, then nearly got
> hit by a speeding bicycle on the way back home, Mitzi was wearing her 
> safety
> vest with reflective stripes.  Two people that night had to work to avoid
> seeing her!  I was wearing something pretty bright, as well.
>
> Anyway, I guess we'll find out what the authorities decide to do about it
> and if the Washington afficliate gets involved...  Don't know if they have

> a
> chapter out in the Tri-Cities, as that area is called.  It's pretty 
> remote.
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of Jewel S.
> Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 1:10 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Washington - Guide dog killed crossing Kennewick 
> street
>
> What do they mean he wasn't arrested or chaged? He just broke the law
> by mowing down a pedestrian and his guide dog, violating the White
> Cane Law, which give the right to blind people carrying a white cane
> or using a guide dog, and they aren't charging him with anything?!
> That is absolutely ridiculous. So what stops drivers from not mowing
> down blind pedestrians who cross the road against the light due to
> lack of traffic, an opening that seems like a light in favour of a
> pedestrian, or a simple mistake of decision? What stops cars from
> running over blind pedestrians who have less than good O&M skills, who
> find themselves veering into the road while crossing a side street?
>
> This guy hits a blind man and his guide dog, kills the guide dog and
> injures the handler, and he isn't charged with anything? Is there any
> plans for a protest against this? What is going to be done about this?
>
> Outraged,
> Jewel
>
> On 3/19/10, Ginger Kutsch <gingerKutsch at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> ACCIDENT: Guide dog killed crossing Kennewick street
>> By Paula Horton, Herald staff writer
>>
>> Kennewick A guide dog died after being hit by a car while leading
>> his owner
>> across a street in Kennewick.
>> Bernie R. Vinther, 65, and his dog, Kaber, were crossing the
>> street at Sixth
>> Avenue and Washington Street around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when they
>> were
>> struck by a car driving north on Washington Street, said
>> Kennewick police.
>> The car was driven by Victorino Mendoza, 46, of Pasco. He was not
>> arrested
>> or charged.
>> Vinther was treated at Kennewick General Hospital with
>> nonlife-threatening
>> injuries. Kaber was a black lab.
>> Vinther had just left the Kennewick police station where he
>> volunteers.
>> The crash remains under investigation by the Kennewick police's
>> traffic
>> unit.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Ginger Bennett Kutsch
>> Morristown, NJ
>>
>>
>>
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