Opinion ID: 900169
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Testimony of Maroney and Other Witnesses

Text: [¶ 11] Since Maroney was the only person to experience and/or witness the events on October 16, 1991, we first examine his testimony. Department ultimately concluded his recollection of the events is inconsistent, and is rejected. [¶ 12] Maroney testified that he left the road about 150 feet from a particular area, the Lowry corner, while Officer Price, the highway patrol officer who arrived at the scene and investigated the accident, testified it was half of that distance. Maroney claimed he attempted to brake twice before the Lowry corner but, while Officer Price was specifically searching for signs of braking, he found no such observable signs. Maroney also contended he actually hit the Lowry corner, but Officer Price stated there were no signs of impact with the Lowry corner and the tracks indicated that Maroney traveled across the Lowry road. Although there were no signs of impact with the Lowry corner, Maroney claimed the impact caused his truck to run wide open. [¶ 13] Maroney's accident reconstructionist, Lewis Dirks (Dirks), conceded that the point of departure from the Lowry road could not be ascertained. In addition, the angle of the slope on the descending side of the Lowry road was unknown, a fact Dirks acknowledged was very important in determining the angle of the truck and degree of control that would have been necessary to keep the truck upright. Dirks' opinion was only that Maroney would have had enough control to exercise some steering input and apply the brakes, but he could not estimate how much control would have been required. [¶ 14] Maroney also claimed his hands were on the steering wheel at all times. However, he received a deep laceration on his left hand and there are no sharp objects on the steering wheel or in other areas of the cab. Based on this disputed aspect of the case, Department did not accept Maroney's claim that he had complete control of the truck with both hands when he sustained a deep laceration to his left hand. It is Department's responsibility to determine the credibility of each witness, including Maroney. Petersen v. Hinky Dinky, 515 N.W.2d 226, 235 (S.D.1994). [¶ 15] Maroney testified that he initially began losing feeling on his left side during the ambulance ride from Mobridge to Bismarck. Officer Price arrived at the scene within minutes of the accident and noted that Maroney's speech was impaired and he did not have the use of one of his hands. Josephine Holder and Kevin Stoik, volunteer ambulance attendants, confirmed Officer Price's observations by testifying that, during the initial ambulance ride to Mobridge, Maroney complained of lack of feeling on one side and visibly suffered from immobility on one side. [3] [¶ 16] Most significantly, Maroney admitted to Ken Fuhrmann, the claims adjuster, that he could not remember much of the accident, including entering the ditch. He stated the last thing he remembered was heading across two lanes. [4] Later, during his deposition, Maroney stated that he began recalling the details of the accident after Fuhrmann left his hospital room. [¶ 17] In light of this contradictory evidence surrounding what occurred at the time of the accident, Department was required to determine which version was credible. This record contains substantial evidence to support Department's finding that Maroney's testimony was inconsistent.