Opinion ID: 1841473
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Mississippi Statute

Text: Considering the state standard first, we find that § 63-3-903 provides as follows: (1) No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, upon the paved or improved or main traveled part of any highway outside of a business or residence district when it is practical to stop, park, or so leave such vehicle off such part of said highway... . The effect of the statute is to provide that no person shall stop his motor vehicle on the main traveled part of the highway when it is practical to stop off the highway. See Whitten v. Land, 188 So.2d 246, 249 (Miss. 1966) (these phrases in the statute pose a question of fact); Hankins v. Harvey, 248 Miss. 639, 657-59, 160 So.2d 63, 70-71 (1964) (same); Gulf Refining Co. v. Brown, 196 Miss. 131, 146-47, 16 So.2d 765, 767 (1944) (same). Our question is whether it was reasonably practical for Long to pull his truck off of the main traveled right hand or westerly land of I-55, not whether it was merely possible for him to have done so. This question is ordinarily one of fact to be submitted to the jury on proper instructions. Compare Maness v. Illinois Central Railroad Company, 271 So.2d 418, 425-26 (Miss. 1972) (issue is a jury question); Hankins v. Harvey, 248 Miss. at 656-59, 160 So.2d at 69-71 (same); with Gulf Refining Co. v. Brown, 196 Miss. at 144, 16 So.2d at 767 (trial judge warranted in finding violation). We may take such issues from the jury only where, under our familiar test, the facts are so clear that reasonable minds could not differ. See, e.g., City of Jackson v. Locklar, 431 So.2d 475, 478-79 (Miss. 1983) (standard for removing issues from the jury); Paymaster Oil Co. v. Mitchell, 319 So.2d 652, 656-57 (Miss. 1975) (same); General Tire and Rubber Co. v. Darnell, 221 So.2d 104, 105-07 (Miss. 1969) (same). Yet, this is precisely what Appellant Administratrix would have us do. She argues that there is no credible evidence in the record contradicting her evidence which, indeed, does suggest that it would have been practical for Long to have pulled his truck entirely on to the shoulder of I-55 and out of the main-traveled lane of traffic. Appellant Administratrix would have us hold that the only circumstance relevant to the practicality issue is whether there was physically enough room to the side of the highway to get the truck safely off the main-traveled lane. Admittedly there was here a shoulder to the west of Long's truck of adequate contour and width. We do not read the statute so narrowly. To be sure the physical makeup of the premises is an important factor relevant to practicality. Teche Lines, Inc. v. Danforth, 195 Miss. 226, 249, 12 So.2d 784, 786 (1943). By no means is it the only factor that may ever be relevant. Freeman and Long argue that it would not have been practical for Long to pull off the main traveled right-hand lane of I-55 and allow a stalled, abandoned, unlit vehicle to remain. This is especially so when it is remembered that the abandoned vehicle had already caused one driver to lose control of his car in an attempt to avoid a collision. The evidence favorable to Freeman and Long suggests that the rear of the Freeman truck had reflectors that could be seen from a distance. In addition, Long activated his red emergency flashers. According to one witness, these could be seen as far as a mile back up the highway. Long's temporary actions arguably improved the safety of the scene vis-a-vis southbound oncoming traffic. We say temporary because at the time the fatal accident occurred Long's plan to improve further the safety of the scene was in the process of implementation; the police officer was speeding down the frontage road so that he could position his car, his blue flashers activated, above the Freeman truck to warn approaching motorists of the danger. In this context we cannot  and will not  say as a matter of law that it was not practical for Long to position his truck as he did. By the same token we do not imply that Long's conduct was immune from criticism. We hold that on this record a jury issue was presented. Appellant Administratrix was not entitled to a peremptory instruction on the practicality issue based on the state statute.