Court Opinion

ID: 9674860
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 04:36:37.569042+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:29.959384
License: Public Domain

HENDERSON, Justice
(concurring specially in part; dissenting in part).
I would permit the introduction of blood alcohol tests on pedestrians involved in accidents providing that it is first established that there is evidence of contributory negligence on the part of the pedestrian. In this case, I have carefully reviewed the record and I simply cannot see any contributory negligence on the part of Mrs. Higbee. The accident happened in the crosswalk when Mrs. Higbee was at least halfway through it. An independent eyewitness testified that appellee’s car was traveling 35-40 m.p.h. in a 30 m.p.h. speed zone. Appellee’s headlights were on and the street lights were on. There was no excuse whatsoever for not seeing the pedestrian until five feet before impact. Mrs. Higbee had the right-of-way and appellee failed to yield. It was not a preferential right-of-way. It was, under these facts, a right-of-way belonging to her.* Instruction 27 did not just slant the law — -it contravened Yankton’s ordinance and our State statute. And it negate ed the pedestrian’s right-of-way. For an opinion on rights and duties of pedestrians under a California statute similar to ours supporting my viewpoint, see LaManna v. Stewart, 13 Cal.3d 413, 118 Cal.Rptr. 761, 530 P.2d 1073 (1975). See also, Simet v. Sage, 208 Neb. 13, 301 N.W.2d 600 (1981).
A distinction must be made between pedestrians crossing in designated crosswalks and pedestrians who are jaywalking. Assuming arguendo, that if an intoxicated person bolts out in front of a car from a curb in a noncrosswalk and is struck, that is negligence. And surely, it should be of probative value as to whether the alcohol content in the pedestrian’s blood is sufficient to establish relevant evidence of intoxication. Blood tests are not unique in law or in science to singularly prove a crime, i.e., driving while intoxicated. A variety of facts can be established by blood tests. I would not, carte blanche, outlaw the admissibility of blood tests on pedestrians in pedestrian-motor vehicular accidents.
In this particular case, I would reverse with instructions to the trial court to enter a judgment for appellant on liability and remand for proof on damages. The liability of appellee has been established. An entire new trial on liability would be costly, time consuming, and fruitless under the state of this record.

 And, in South Dakota, where shall we place our values? On inanimate objects or human beings? The Yankton ordinance and the State statute say nothing about a preferential right-of-way. If a citizen is walking in a crosswalk, it behooves the automobile driver to look out, beware, drive carefully, and yield the right-of-way.