Case Name: GIBSON v. ATLANTIC COAST LINE R. CO.
Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1918-07-20
Citations: 110 S.C. 331
Docket Number: 10053
Parties: GIBSON v. ATLANTIC COAST LINE R. CO.
Judges: Messrs. Justices Hydrick and Gage concur.
Reporter: South Carolina Reports
Volume: 110
Pages: 331–333

Head Matter:
10053
GIBSON v. ATLANTIC COAST LINE R. CO.
(96 S. E. 519.)
1. Railroads —• Crossing — Contributory Negligence. — Where it appeared that an automobilist would have run into the side of a train through his own fault regardless of whether there were gates or a watchman at a crossing, he cannot recover, even though the railroad was negligent in not having a watchman or gates.
2. Abbeal and Error—Harmless Error.—Where it appeared that plaintiff would have run into the side of a train at a crossing regardless of whether there was a watchman or gates, any ruling of Judge in excluding- evidence, or otherwise, concerning watchman or gates was not prejudicial to plaintiff.
Before Spain, J., Marlboro, Fall term, 1917.
Affirmed
Action by W. S. Gibson against the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company. From an order of nonsuit, plaintiff appeals.
Messrs. A. L,. Hamer and Jennings K. Owens, for appellant. Mr. Owens
cites: As to punitive damages: 81 S- C. 340; 84 S. C. 539; 83 S. C. 354; 33 Cyc. 931-2. As to negligence per se in operating a train through a town in violation -of a town ordinance: 83 S. C. 354; 144 U. S. 434. Contributory negligence is not a defense and cannot prevail in the presence of gross negligence or wilfulness on the part of the defendant company: 89 S. C. 97; 99 S. C. 284.
Mr. D. D. McColl, for respondent,
submits: That plaintiff’s injury was due to his own gross negligence: 34 S. C, 444; 78 S. C. —; 81 S. C. 196; 94 S. C. 145.
July 20, 1918.

Opinion:
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
Mr. Justice Watts.
This is an appeal from an order of nonsuit granted by his Honor, Judge Spain, at the Fall term of Court, 1917,. for Marlboro county.
The exceptions, seven in number, allege error. We will not consider them seriatim, as in our view of the case neither the exclusion of the evidence complained of or any other error of his Honor (if any) was prejudicial to the plaintiff, as the evidence in the case admits of no other inference than that neither a watchman nor gates at the crossing could have prevented the plaintiff from running into the train. The sole proximate cause of plaintiff's injury was his lack of care and his failure to observe the ordinary precaution in crossing the railroad track. The plaintiff saw the train crossing and actually occupying the track. His own reckless conduct was the direct and proxi mate cause of his injury. He saw the train when he was at least 150 feet from it. He did not stop, although he could have done so, and made no effort to stop it. Fie thought by timing his movements and still running his automobile the train would pass over the crossing before he reached it. He had defective lights on his car. The only inference that can be drawn from the evidence is that not the failure to have gates or a watchman at the crossing or the high rate of speed of the train, but the careless, reckless conduct of the plaintiff, was the cause of his injury. The plaintiff can have no recovery under the facts of the case and under Barber v. Railroad Co., 34 S. C. 444, 13 S. E. 630; Cable Piano Co. v. Railroad, 94 S. C. 145, 77 S. E. 868.
Exceptions overruled.
Judgment affirmed.
Messrs. Justices Hydrick and Gage concur.
Mr. Chief Justice Gary did not sit.