Case Name: GEORGE ANTON v. NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY
Court: Minnesota Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Minnesota
Decision Date: 1927-05-27
Citations: 171 Minn. 355
Docket Number: No. 25,865
Parties: GEORGE ANTON v. NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY.
Judges: 
Reporter: Minnesota Reports
Volume: 171
Pages: 355–358

Head Matter:
GEORGE ANTON v. NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY.
May 27, 1927.
No. 25,865.
D. M. Cameron, for appellant.
B. W. Scandrett, Frederic D. McCarthy and M. L. Countryman, Jr., for respondent.
Reported in 214 N. W. 661.

Opinion:
Wilson, C. J.
Plaintiff appealed from an order denying his alternative motion for judgment notwithstanding a directed verdict or a new trial.
This is a railroad crossing accident case. Assuming defendant's negligence, we go directly to the consideration of contributory negligence.
The city of Little Falls is divided by the Mississippi river which is bridged on Broadway street running east and west. Three of defendant's tracks extending north and south cross Broadway at the west end of the bridge. Defendant's passenger depot is located about 309 feet north of the center line of Broadway on a tract of defendant's land 30 to 50 feet wide which extends along the west side of the tracks. About 99 feet north of the center line of Broadway is a water tank 22 feet in diameter which rests on eight stilts and is 18 feet above the level of the rails. It has a ladder; also a frost chamber or boxed-in inclosure eight feet square extending from the ground to the center of the tank. Perhaps there are two or three telephone or light poles, but they are not located.
immediately to the west of the depot premises is First street, about 50 feet wide, intersecting at right angles with Broadway. A person approaching the crossing from the west, upon reaching the westerly line of First street, has a clear view of the tracks up to the depot except for the objects mentioned and when 50 feet from the west rail is able to see, subject to the interference of said objects, substantially one block and to a point opposite the center of the depot.
The accident happened at 6:15 p. m. September 29, 1925. The sun set at 6:08 p. m. The day was cloudy with a little fog; the wind was from the west. As plaintiff approached the crossing from the west driving a Ford truck loaded with wood he observed a freight train on the second track backing to the north, the locomotive being on the crossing. He construed the warning of a wigwag signal as referring to the freight train and the open gates as an invitation to proceed. Two automobiles headed east were standing on Broadway apparently waiting for a safe crossing. Plaintiff ap proached at about ten miles per hour, passed to tbe right of tbe two automobiles, and continued in high gear over tbe crossing, expecting to pass just in front of said locomotive. It was emitting smoke and steam. Its bell was ringing. Before be got across tbe first track tbe rear of bis truck was struck by defendant's North Coast Limited passenger train coming from tbe north. Tbe passenger train's headlight was on. It was traveling from 8 to 15 miles per hour at tbe depot, but tbe speed was materially slackened at tbe time of tbe collision and tbe witnesses say tbe train stopped 15 to 60 feet from tbe place of tbe accident.
About 20 trains, aside from those engaged in switching operations, pass over this crossing every 24 hours. Plaintiff has crossed these tracks about eight times every day for several years. He says on tbe evening in question be could see tbe depot and that if tbe train bad been there be could have seen it. He does not claim that be could not see tbe passenger train because of fog, rain, steam or smoke. He says that be looked both ways and did not see any train. Tbe facts lead us to tbe conclusion that if be bad looked to tbe left be would have seen tbe approaching passenger train in time to have averted tbe accident. A person approaching and passing over such a crossing must use bis eyes and a failure so to do, in tbe absence of distracting circumstances, precludes a recovery for injuries suffered by partial reason thereof. Tbe record does not disclose any reasonable explanation of plaintiff's failure to see tbe train. He either did not look or, if be did, be saw tbe train and took tbe chances involved in attempting to cross ahead of it. Under such circumstances be is guilty of contributory negligence which bars bis recovery. Wardner v. G. N. Ry. Co. 96 Minn. 382, 104 N. W. 1084; Anderson v. G. N. Ry. Co. 147 Minn. 118, 179 N. W. 687; Jensen v. M. St. P. & S. S. M. Ry. Co. 154 Minn. 414, 191 N. W. 908; Rintala v. D. W. & P. Ry. Co. 159 Minn. 499, 199 N. W. 562; Buelow v. C. R. I. & P. Ry. Co. 164 Minn. 52, 204 N. W. 571; Bailey v. M. St. P. & S. S. M. Ry. Co. 166 Minn. 118, 207 N. W. 26, 560.
Tbe invitation extended by tbe open gates did not, under tbe decisions of this court, relieve plaintiff from exercising care. Ward ner v. G. N. Ry. Co. supra; Lang v. N. P. Ry. Co. 118 Minn. 68, 136 N. W. 297; Martin v. G. N. Ry. Co. 132 Minn. 78, 155 N. W. 1047; Buelow v. C. R. I. & P. Ry. Co. supra.
Affirmed