Opinion ID: 882762
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: officer's opinion testimony

Text: Hislop next contends that the District Court erred in allowing Officer Crick to testify as to his opinion regarding the cause of the accident. We have previously ruled on this identical issue and have allowed such testimony. In Hart-Anderson v. Hauck (1989), 239 Mont. 444, 781 P.2d 1116, a police officer who investigated an accident was asked his opinion as to the cause of the accident. The defendant objected on the basis of lack of foundation. We held that a police officer with years of experience in investigating accidents can testify as to his opinion regarding the cause of the accident. Hart-Anderson, 781 P.2d at 1118-19. The purpose of the police officer's testimony is to assist the trier of fact on the issue of causation. In Hart-Anderson, the police officer had extensive experience in accident investigation and an adequate foundation was presented for his testimony. In addition, defense counsel cross-examined the police officer as to the basis of his opinion. Hart-Anderson, 781 P.2d at 1119. We held that the jury is free to decide the weight to give the police officer's testimony as to the cause of the accident. Hart-Anderson, 781 P.2d at 1119. As in Hart-Anderson, the record here shows that Officer Crick had extensive experience in investigation and was properly qualified through training and experience to testify as to his opinion regarding the cause of the accident. Officer Crick has been employed as a highway patrol officer for eighteen years, has received literally hundreds of hours of training in accident investigation and reconstruction, and has investigated hundreds of accidents. In addition, Hislop's counsel had the opportunity to thoroughly cross-examine Officer Crick on the basis of his opinion. Officer Crick's testimony assisted the trier of fact on the issue of causation, and the jury was free to give his testimony any credence they felt appropriate. At trial, Hislop objected to Officer Crick's testimony, contending that such testimony invaded the province of the jury. As stated above, a police officer, properly qualified by training and experience in accident investigation, may be allowed to testify regarding his opinion of the cause of an accident. Because the jury was free to determine what, if any, weight to accord to his testimony, we hold that Officer Crick's testimony did not invade the province of the jury. On appeal, Hislop claims that Officer Crick was not properly qualified. We note, however, that, at trial, Hislop failed to object as to lack of foundation, contending only that the testimony invaded the province of the jury. It is well settled that we will not address an issue raised for the first time on appeal. Story v. City of Bozeman (Mont. 1993), 856 P.2d 202, 208, 50 St. Rep. 761, 763.