Court Opinion

ID: 5632173
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-11 05:27:47.966964+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:37:50.466219
License: Public Domain

Bell, Presiding Judge.
Frank Glenn brought this action against Hugh A. Smith to recover for personal injuries caused by defendant’s negligence. The undisputed evidence showed that plaintiff was riding as a guest passenger in a pickup truck operated by defendant. It was nighttime, and the truck was traveling at a speed of approximately 45 miles per hour on a rural post road over hilly terrain and approaching a curve downgrade to the right. Defendant dropped a lighted cigarette, which fell to the floor of the truck. Defendant made no effort to stop the truck, but immediately bent over, as low as he could, to look for the cigarette, averting his eyes from the road for several seconds. While defendant was thus preoccupied, the vehicle ran off the road onto the left shoulder. Defendant then “cut” the vehicle back to the right, and it ran off the road on the right, turned over and crashed into an embankment, injuring plaintiff. There was no evidence that plaintiff was contributorily negligent or that he could have avoided the consequences of defendant’s negligence. Under the facts of this case, it was a question for the jury whether the defendant was guilty of gross negligence, and the trial court erred in directing a verdict for plaintiff on the issue of liability. See Smith v. Hodges, 44 Ga. App. 318, 321 (161 SE 284); Jordan v. Lee, 51 Ga. App. 99 (2, 3) (179 SE 739); Capers v. Martin, 54 Ga. App. 555 (3, 4) (188 *528SE 465); Austin v. Smith, 96 Ga. App. 659, 663 (101 SE2d 169).

Jordan and Pannell, JJ., concur.

Submitted February 7, 1967
Decided April 4, 1967.
Erwin, Birchmore & Epting, Denny C. Galis, for appellant.
Grant & Matthews, William F. Grant, C. A. Matthews, for appellee.

Judgment reversed.