Opinion ID: 1625577
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Evidence in Record.

Text: Cox stipulated that Kueker had died as a result of injuries he received in the collision. To establish the charge, the State offered the testimony of two troopers. The troopers testified there was an unobstructed view of the intersection for four-tenths of a mile to the east and one-quarter of a mile to the south. There were rumble strips 990 feet, 660 feet and 340 feet from the stop sign and a stop ahead sign 765 feet from the stop sign. The Cox pickup weighed approximately 4600 pounds. It struck the Kueker minivan, weighing approximately 3200 pounds, broadside. It was misting, drizzling or raining at the time of the accident. Although the officers were unable to establish the preimpact speed of either vehicle, they were able to compute the minimum speed of the Kueker minivan following collision to be twenty-three miles per hour and the minimum speed of the Cox pickup after impact to be eighteen miles per hour. The troopers concluded the Kueker minivan was traveling at a speed greater than the Cox pickup at the time of the collision. They found no evidence Cox was exceeding the legal speed of fifty-five miles per hour. The minivan had its parking lights on at the time of the collision. The State introduced evidence of oral and written statements made by Cox within a few hours after the accident. In these statements Cox said he intended to turn north at the intersection, he saw the Kueker minivan approaching from the south with its turn signals on indicating it would turn east, and that the collision occurred as he pulled out from the stop sign and began to turn north. He thought he stopped but did not remember. He told the patrolman he had his seat belt on. At trial, Cox testified he did not have his seat belt on, that he had not stopped or slowed down at the stop sign nor had he turned to the left. He testified he had got up at approximately 6:30 a.m. and had completed his farm chores. He then decided to pick up his combine that he had left at a farm in the area. He drove his grandparents' pickup. He had traveled the road to where the combine was located a few times and was somewhat familiar with the intersection. He knew he was required to stop at the intersection. He stopped for gas approximately four miles from the accident site and picked up a can of pop and a candy bar. As he was approaching the intersection from the west he was traveling forty-five to fifty miles per hour. He testified that he had apparently dozed off as he approached the intersection. When he awoke, he saw the stop sign and approaching vehicle and immediately slammed on his brakes.