Opinion ID: 900903
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Visibility Instruction

Text: [¶ 31.] DM & E contends that it was error for the trial court to not include its proposed jury instruction regarding visible and audible notice. DM & E's proposed instruction was based upon SDCL 32-29-4, which states: If any person driving a vehicle approaches a railroad grade crossing and a clearly visible or audible signal gives warning of the immediate approach of a railway train or car, he shall bring such vehicle to a complete stop within fifty feet but not less than fifteen feet from the nearest rail of such railroad and may not proceed until he can do so safely. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. [¶ 32.] The trial court denied DM & E's proposed instruction regarding this statute because, under the facts in this case, the statute does not apply. The plain meaning of SDCL 32-29-4 contemplates that a driver must stop his or her car when a clearly visible or audible signal gives warning of the immediate approach of a railway train or car[.] Id. In this case there were no visible or audible warning devices present for the northbound Boomsmas at the crossing in question. [¶ 33.] The service line was not connected to the overhead warning lights which explains why those lights were not activated. The crossbuck sign attached to the overhead warning lights indicated only two tracks instead of three. The evidence is undisputed that no clearly visible or audible signal indicated the presence of an approaching train on January 26, 1998 at 6:20 p.m. [¶ 34.] DM & E's proposed jury instruction also contemplates that Julie and Erica Boomsma were contributorily negligent for not stopping based on the presence of passive warning devices. Contributory negligence is a breach of duty which the law imposes upon persons to protect themselves from injury, and which, concurring and cooperating with actionable negligence for which defendant is responsible, contributes to the injury complained of as a proximate cause. Starnes v. Stofferahn, 83 S.D. 424, 432, 160 N.W.2d 421, 426 (1968). The trial court correctly concluded the provisions of SDCL 32-29-4 were not applicable to the facts of this case. [¶ 35.] In any event, the trial court gave an instruction on contributory negligence. Therefore, looking at the jury instructions as a whole, the trial court accurately set forth the law applicable to this case. See Overfield, 2000 SD 98 at ¶ 11, 614 N.W.2d at 816.