Court Opinion

ID: 9550946
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:45:40.096233+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:22:47.960704
License: Public Domain

Holmes, J.
dissenting. I respectfully dissent. In my opinion, the admission of the officer’s diagram without an explanation of the markings contained thereon was clearly erroneous and prejudicial to the plaintiffs. As the majority concedes, the admission of the diagram was highly important to the defense. It was essential to establish the defendant’s theory and to disprove plaintiffs’.
The diagram in question would appear to show the route of the plaintiffs’ truck from a point where it apparently ran off the shoulder on the east edge of the northbound lanes until it ended up on its left side across the highway on the shoulder along the west edge of the southbound lanes. The markings first show two straight lines proceeding north and east of the shoulder. These two lines are designated “wheel marks by right wheels” and extend for a distance of what appears to be about 200 feet before turning back towards the left and the highway. At the point where these two parallel lines approach the right-hand edge of the shoulder they become one solid black line considerably wider and heavier than the lines designated as having been made by the right wheels. The solid black line then proceeds to the east line of the inside northbound lane where it stops. A new line begins again further north, proceeds across the inside northbound lane, across the median strip to the west edge thereof. At that point there is a definite break in the line shown on the diagram and it does not reoccur until the middle of the inside southbound lane where a much lighter and finer line picks up going nearly straight north for another fifty feet or so until it forms a loop and then proceeds on to the final resting point of the vehicle. It is not clear whether the loop indicates the truck turned over, spun around, or what was intended. The various markings, which apparently were an attempt to chart the course of the ill-fated vehicle, cover some 510 feet from south to north although the diagram itself is not drawn to scale. There is no explanation of the different types of markings or lines tracing the path of the vehicle. The first lines, indicated as being from the right wheels of the truck, are definitely different from those shown on the right-hand portion of the highway, which are in turn different from those shown in the median and southbound lanes of the highway. In all, there are what appear to be four different types of markings used by the officer to chart the travel of the vehicle. Without the officer s *319testimony, it is impossible to determine whether they indicate skid marks, scuff marks, mud tracks, a trail of oil, power steering fluid, or merely the officer’s opinion of the path of travel. The diagram also indicates a broken mile post near the point where the markings first indicate the vehicle went off the shoulder. While it is the theory of the defense that plaintiff went off the road, struck the mile post, which in breaking punctured and ruptured the power steering hose, this is purely conjecture based upon the unexplained diagram. There was no testimony from the patrolman’s supervisor or any other official of the highway patrol that there is a uniform method of preparing accident forms which might shed some light upon the meaning or interpretation of the various markings and monuments shown on the diagram.
In my opinion, this case falls squarely within the rule we set forth in Sulkis v. Zane, 208 Kan. 800, 494 P.2d 1233 (1972):
“Generally, a diagram illustrating the scene of an accident and the relative location of objects, if proved to be correct, is admissible in evidence to enable the jury to understand and apply the established facts to the particular case. (8 Am. Jur. 2d, Automobiles and Highway Traffic, § 977, p. 528.) However, where marks or notations, the import of which is not clear, appear upon a map or diagram and the person who made them is not produced as a witness, the map or diagram containing such marks is inadmissible. (29 Am. Jur. 2d, Evidence, § 784, pp. 854, 855.)” p. 803.
K.S.A. 60-460(d)(3) provides an exception to the hearsay rule based upon necessity and the unavailability of the witness whose hearsay statement is sought to be introduced in evidence. I have no quarrel with the majority’s analysis of the statute itself and its general application. Where we differ is in the majority’s finding that the diagram contains no conclusions of the officer but merely reflects physical facts as he found them. What physical facts are reflected? If all of the markings, monuments and entries on the diagram were clearly described, I might agree but, unfortunately, they are not. There is absolutely no way to determine what the officer was attempting to portray in his diagram and the rule of Sulkis should apply.
In commenting upon K.S.A. 60-460(d)(3), it has been said:
“Clause (3) is drafted so as to indicate an attitude of reluctance and require most careful scrutiny in admitting hearsay statements under its provisions.” 4 K.S.A. Code of Civ. Proc. 437 (1965).
It is not necessary to comment upon plaintiffs’ other points and, in my opinion, the decision of the trial court should be reversed and the case remanded for a new trial.