Case Name: ANGUS P. PRAUGHT, AS SPECIAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF BERTHA D. PRAUGHT, DECEASED v. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY; ANGUS P. PRAUGHT, AS SPECIAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ARMELLA PRAUGHT, DECEASED v. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY
Court: Minnesota Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Minnesota
Decision Date: 1919-12-19
Citations: 144 Minn. 309
Docket Number: Nos. 21,484, 21,485
Parties: ANGUS P. PRAUGHT, AS SPECIAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF BERTHA D. PRAUGHT, DECEASED v. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY. ANGUS P. PRAUGHT, AS SPECIAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ARMELLA PRAUGHT, DECEASED v. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY.
Judges: 
Reporter: Minnesota Reports
Volume: 144
Pages: 309–313

Head Matter:
ANGUS P. PRAUGHT, AS SPECIAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF BERTHA D. PRAUGHT, DECEASED v. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY. ANGUS P. PRAUGHT, AS SPECIAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ARMELLA PRAUGHT, DECEASED v. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY.
December 19, 1919.
Nos. 21,484, 21,485.
Negligence of driver — reasonable care required of passenger.
1. While the negligence of the driver of a vehicle is not imputed to a passenger riding therein, still the passenger is required to exercise ■reasonable care for her own safety.
Contributory negligence question for the jury.
2. Evidence in this case held sufficient to justify the submission of the question of contributory negligence to the jury.
Two actions in the district court for Wright county to recover for the death of plaintiff’s intestates. The cases were tried together before Giddings, J., who at the close of the evidence denied defendant’s motion in each case for a directed verdict, and a jury which returned a verdict in favor of defendant in each ease. From orders denying his motions for new trials, the special administrator appealed.
Reversed on reargument.
Henry Bpvn&ler., for appellants.
Cobb, Wheelwright & Dille and Dille, 11 olee, Erame á Faegre, for respondent.
Reported in 175 N. W. 998.

Opinion:
Quinn, J.
Two actions to recover for the death of plaintiff's intestates, caused by a collision between an automobile in which they were riding and one of defendant's passenger trains. The collision occurred at about 9:80 o'clock in the evening on August 30, 1918, at a crossing of the highway with defendant's railroad about one mile southeast of Monticello, in Wright county. There was a verdict for defendant in each case, and from an order denying his motion- for a new trial plaintiff appeals.
The negligence charged against the defendant was, running its train at an unlawful and dangerous rate of speed and failing to give the required signals as it approached the crossing. The answers contained allegations of contributory negligence on the part of the deceased persons. It is not questioned but that there was testimony sufficient to have justified the jury in finding the defendant guilty of negligence. The trial court submitted to the jury, whether or not the two deceased persons were guilty of contributory negligence. The correctness of this instruction is the sole question here for consideration.
Defendant's line of road extends in a northwesterly direction from Albertville to Monticello, a distance of about ten miles. William, Armella and Bertha Praught, brother and sisters, aged respectively 26, 28 and 22 years, lived together upon their father's farm near Albertville and within one mile of the railroad track. The highway extends west past their home, thence north to the crossing in question. At that point the track is straight, with no obstructions, so that an approaching train might be seen from the highway where it intersects the right of way from the south for a distance of about 2,000 feet. On the evening in question, William, in company with his two sisters, started from their home in his Ford ear to go to a dance beyond Monticello, the sisters sitting in the rear seat, and he alone in front driving. They traveled at the rate of from 20 to 25 miles per hour, and upon approaching the right of way slowed down to eight or ten miles. As the automobile reached the track, it came into contact with a rapidly moving passenger train from the northwest, the pilot striking the front wheel and radiator, completely demolishing the car, injuring the driver and killing the two sisters.
But two persons who witnessed the accident testified at the trial. The engineer testified that he first saw the automobile as it approached the right of way when the engine was within about six or seven hundred feet of the crossing; that the headlight was shining brightly, the bell ringing, and that he immediately sounded the whistle; that the train was running about 45- miles per hour; that when the whistle sounded the automobile came up within eight or ten feet of the track and stopped, and that when the engine was within 60 feet of the crossing the anto started up and came into contact with the pilet. William Praught testified that it was moonlight; that when within 50 or 60 feet of the crossing he slowed down to about eight or ten miles an hour; that he then took a long look, saw and heard nothing, continued at about the same rate of speed and when within five or six feet, of the track saw the train right, on him; that he first saw the train when within a rod or 20 feet of the track; that his hearing was good, but he heard no signal and the headlight was dim; that both he and his sisters were familiar with the crossing, and that he knew it was about time for the train to pass; that his sisters' hearing and eyesight were good, but that they said nothing to him about the crossing nor of danger. These were all matters which the jury might properly consider in determining whether the passengers were guilty of contributory negligence. While the negligence of a driver of a vehicle is not imputable to a passenger riding therein, still the passenger is required to exercise a proper degree of care for his own safety. Carnegie v. Great Northern Ry. Co. 128 Minn. 14, 150 N. W. 164, and cases there cited.
It is apparent from the testimony that the engineer saw the automobile long before any of the occupants of the automobile saw the train. If it be true, as testified to by the engineer, that the automobile came to a full stop when within eight or ten feet of the railroad track, and, as the locomotive approached the crossing, suddenly started up and was instantly struck by the engine, it would be almost impossible to say that the passengers, having nothing to do with the driving of the car, could have been guilty of contributory negligence; but if, when the automobile approached the right of way, it slowed down to eight or ten miles and proceeded across the track at that rate, then, under the circumstances disclosed by the evidence, the issue of contributory negligence on the part of the passengers became a question for the jury.
In Howe v. Minneapolis, St. P. & S. S. M. Ry. Co. 62 Minn. 71, 77, 64 N. W. 102, the plaintiff was riding in a wagon driven by another, and was injured in a collision between the wagon and one of defendant's trains at a crossing. Plaintiff's testimony, which was the only testimony as to what he did, was that he looked both ways for approaching trains and saw none until within about 25 feet of the crossing when it was too late. It was held that contributory negligence of plaintiff was a question for the jury.
In the case of Finley v. Chicago, M. & St. P. Ry. Co. 71 Minn. 471, 74 N. W. 174, plaintiff was riding with her husband, at his invitation, in a wagon drawn by his horses which he was driving. He was negligent in failing to look and listen before .attempting to cross the railroad track. Held, it was a question for the jury whether she was guilty of contributory negligence in failing to look and listen or to observe that her husband was not using due care, if such was the fact. See also Wilds v. Hudson River R. Co. 29 N. Y. 315, 325; Bush v. Union P. R. Co. 62 Kan. 709, 64 Pac. 624; Donnelly v. Brooklyn City R. Co. 109 N. Y. 16, 15 N. E. 733; Brickell v. N. Y. Cent. etc. R. Co. 120 N. Y. 290, 24 N. E. 449, 17 Am. St. 648; Bresee v. Los Angeles Traction Co. 149 Cal. 131, 85 Pac. 152, 5 L.R.A.(N.S.) 1059; see note 8 L.R.A.(N.S.) p. 597; note L.R.A. 1915A, p. 766.
While it cannot be said in the present case that the passengers riding in the automobile were guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law, it is our opinion that the court properly submitted to the jury the question of their negligence.
Affirmed.