Court Opinion

ID: 9770675
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 16:19:05.712155+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:31:19.860539
License: Public Domain

Conley Byrd, Justice, concurring. I concur with the result in the majority opinion although I must admit that the rule in Wallis v. Mrs. Smith's Pie Company, 261 Ark. 622, 550 S.W. 2d 453 (1977), as applied seems to give the plaintiff the best of two worlds. However, I cannot accept the minority view that the decedents were guilty of negligence that was a proximate cause of their death. They had the right to assume until the contrary became apparent that the people using the westbound portion of the freeway would not cross the median. To accept the minority’s view would make a jury question as to the liability of a motorist traveling along a freeway any time the motorist is struck by a vehicle crossing the median of any of our interstate highway systems. It would come as quite a shock to the average citizen of this State to find out that he could be held liable for damages under such circumstances. See Prickett v. Farrell, Adm., 248 Ark. 996, 455 S.W. 2d 74 (1970) and Scott v. Jansson, 257 Ark. 410, 516 S.W. 2d 589 (1974). For the reasons herein stated, 1 concur in the result of the majority opinion.