Suspect pleads not guilty to alleged hit-and-run that left dog dead
A Spring Valley man who allegedly shattered a woman’s leg and killed her dog after hitting them with his car has pleaded not guilty in Mower County Court.
Zachary Olef Losey, 25, pleaded not guilty to criminal vehicular operation on Thursday, a felony. Losey allegedly drove a Pontiac Grand Am east on 290th Street in Racine Township on July 31 after visiting two bars and drinking about 12 beers in the span of four to five hours, according to a court complaint.
Officers heard about the collision not far from the Fillmore County line and found two people in the ditch when they arrived. One, a woman, had allegedly suffered a compound fracture to her right leg, a cut on her lower back and road rash. She was covered in the blood from the dog she had been walking, which died in the collision. The report didn’t say the breed of dog. The other person, a 23-year-old, jumped out of the way of the car and was unharmed.
According to the complaint, the car kept going after hitting the woman and dog and missing the other person. Authorities later found the alleged driver, Losey, and reportedly matched dents and blood on the car to the scene.
Losey was arrested and charged with criminal vehicular operation. A breath test reportedly showed his blood alcohol content at .13.
His pretrial is set for Nov. 16.