Opinion ID: 2495846
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Leah's version of the accident

Text: ¶ 5. The plaintiffs had alternative two theories of liability: (1) that Byrd had backed into Leah's car, or (2) that Byrd had left his trailer in the road without warning the southbound traffic. ¶ 6. Leah testified that, on the day of the accident, she had placed Jonathan's car seat on the left rear seat of her car, immediately behind the driver. Before leaving from her home, she had secured Jonathan in his car seat and had driven southwest on Highway 468 in Rankin County. ¶ 7. Leah estimated that she had been traveling from forty-five to fifty-five miles per hour, as she approached the scene. Her expert determined that her speed had been fifty-five miles per hour just before the accident. [1] Halfway to the accident scene, Jonathan climbed out of his car seat and into the front passenger's seat. Leah never reduced her speed. ¶ 8. Leah described the part of Highway 468 leading to the scene as a straight shot, with a clear view for about one mile. She explained that the truck and trailer had not been in the road as she had approached the scene. Leah had noticed Byrd's trailer on the side of the road, but because of the shade along the highway, she could not see the trailer clearly. As she continued south, the trailer suddenly backed into the road, hooked into her car, and spun it into a ditch. According to Leah, the accident happened so quickly that she did not swerve or apply her brakes. She did not recall speaking with Byrd after the accident. ¶ 9. McLain, the Independent Roofing employee who supervised both Byrd and Keys, also testified for the plaintiffs. [2] After learning of the wreck, McLain traveled to the scene. When he arrived, McLain saw grass and gravel spent around the truck's front-pull axle, which indicated to him that the truck had been backing up. McLain pointed out the spent gravel to Independent Roofing safety director Russell Ramsey and offered his opinion of its significance. But, allegedly, Ramsey dismissed McLain's concerns. Ultimately, McLain found it obvious that the truck had been backing up, but said that everyone had wanted to cover it up. ¶ 10. The plaintiffs called Rankin County Sheriff's Department Deputy Don Bryant and Sergeant Dan Warren as witnesses. Officer Bryant had driven upon the scene right after the accident. Deputy Bryant testified that the rear tires of Byrd's truck looked like they had been spinning. Deputy Bryant believed that Byrd had attempted to back his truck up the incline in the driveway, but that the truck had gotten stuck. ¶ 11. Sergeant Warren testified that when he arrived at the scene, he could see the truck clearly. But because of the shadows, he could not see the trailer very well. Based on photographs from the accident scene, Sergeant Warren testified that the tires from Byrd's truck had been spinning from Byrd's attempts to back up or pull forward.