Court Opinion

ID: 9517492
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 00:18:47.482931+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:54:55.983481
License: Public Domain

HENDERSON, Justice
(dissenting).
A papérboy. He is an entrepreneur, a future businessman, a son, a representative of youth’s flower, a delight to customers, a modern-day Gunga Din for that daily miracle we call the newspaper, but above all else, he is this country’s future filled with hopes and dreams. This eight-year-old boy’s dreams were dashed to earth by a negligent motorist who failed to yield the right-of-way unto him as he crossed, in a crosswalk, in the second busiest intersection in the State of South Dakota. Hereby, I uphold his cause.
Recently, I have twice expressed my anguish at the treatment of this Court regarding pedestrians. First, to an elderly lady in an intersection at Yankton in American State Bank, Trust Dept., Etc. v. Mayer, 326 N.W.2d 110 (S.D.1982) (Henderson, J., concurring specially in part, dissenting in part). Secondly, to an elderly lady with a cane struck by an automobile in a Watertown parking lot in Johnson v. Jongeling, 328 N.W.2d 275 (S.D.1983) (Henderson, J., dissenting). Now, I express my disagreement with the treatment of this Aberdeen American News paperboy who was struck by a 19-year-old driver in Aberdeen and hurled to the pavement with resulting serious, permanent injuries. In American State Bank, 326 N.W.2d at 113, footnote, I expressed: “And, in South Dakota, where shall we place our values? On inanimate objects or human beings?” I indicated in Johnson v. Jongeling, 328 N.W.2d 275, that the inanimate object, comprised largely of cold steel and oblivious to pain, should yield to the human being housed in bone and flesh.
This little newspaper boy was attempting to cross some five lanes, two lanes for westbound traffic, 2 lanes for eastbound traffic, and a middle turning lane. Warren Schu-*21macher, the Aberdeen Traffic Control supervisor, testified that the overhead lights were set to allow pedestrians a scant 14 seconds of green light to cross the intersection. This paperboy had been out collecting money for his paper route and had a rendezvous at a grocery store to meet his brother who was also an enterprising young lad in the paper business. Before reaching the curb, he looked up at the traffic light, noting that it was green. The evidence is clear that before stepping off the curb, he again glanced at the light and proceeded into the intersection for it was still green. When well into the intersection, he looked at the light again and saw that it had changed .to yellow. Running as fast as he could to reach the other curb, this eight-year-old boy’s dreams, hopes, and the rendezvous with his brother came to a crashing halt. For, indeed, the motorist bore down upon him and sent his little body flying to the street. The motorist paid no heed to three cars stopped at the intersection awaiting the boy’s passage at the time of the collision.
I am convinced that factually, and in the law, the motorist failed to keep a proper lookout as she entered the intersection. As the evidence in the settled record reveals, the intersection was exceptionally well lit and the paperboy wore a jacket with five lightly colored narrow strips along the top of the sleeves and the shoulders. The paperboy testified he entered the intersection briskly walking, not running or jogging. David Brewer was one of the motorists waiting at the intersection when the paperboy was struck. Mr. Brewer testified the paperboy entered the crosswalk on a green light. Captain David McGinnis was also stopped at the intersection; he likewise testified the paperboy had a green light just as he entered the crosswalk. James Rohl, another motorist who was stopped and waiting at the intersection, testified that his car was stopped for a red light when the paperboy entered the intersection.
SDCL 32-27-2 provides:
At intersections where traffic is controlled by traffic control signals or police officers, drivers of vehicles, including those making turns, shall yield the right of way to pedestrians crossing or those who have started, to cross the roadway on a “green” or “go” signal, and in all other cases pedestrians shall yield the right of way to vehicles lawfully proceeding directly ahead on a “green” or “go” signal. (Emphasis supplied.)
It is important to note that SDCL 32-27-2 is disjunctive; it requires motorists to yield to (1) “pedestrians crossing,” or (2) “those who have started to cross the roadway on a ‘green’ or ‘go’ signal.” This paperboy fits in either category. In law, he had the right-of-way.
In a telling statement, the motorist at deposition was questioned about the stopped traffic: .
Q. How far back were you from the intersection when you saw the car in the inside lane?
A. Well, I wasn’t that interested in the car. I seen the car, I noticed that the light was green, that I could continue through the intersection.
The time has come in this state for the message to ring out loud and clear that the motorist approaching an intersection is responsible for more than merely the color of the stoplights: He or she has a duty to yield to pedestrians trapped in a crosswalk. The color of traffic control signals is not the only rule of the road; it is but one of them. This motorist knew children frequented this busy intersection, as she testified at trial: “I always see children on that intersection.” In Doyen v. Lamb, 74 S.D. 126, 129-30, 49 N.W.2d 382, 383-4 (1951), we held:
What is reasonable or ordinary care varies depending upon the circumstances of each case. A higher degree of care is required where children are involved or in case of adults where age or physical infirmity is present. As stated in 2 Blashfield Cyclopedia of Automobile Law and Practice, § 1497, “A motorist, in approaching children on the street, must consider their tenderness of age and the probability of their making sudden and erratic movements peculiar to such age as factors *22calling for greater caution than would be necessary on the discovery of adults in the same situation. He is not justified in assuming that a child will exercise the same degree of care for his safety as an adult would under the circumstances, nor is he justified in presuming that a child near highway will remain in place of safety. This high degree of care required of motorists is based on the well-known fact that children of tender age act upon intuition and impulse and are apt to do most unexpected things, particularly where there are large numbers of children present in or near the street and there is probability that they are in a state of excitement.”
See also, Fowler Butane Gas Co. v. Varner, 244 Miss. 130, 141 So.2d 226 (1962). Not only are children given to sudden impulsive movements, but because of their small stature, their vision is not comparable to adults. They do not have the vantage point of adults. Thus, they are at a perilous disadvantage.
In a strikingly similar case to the one at bar, the Court in Griffith v. Slaybaugh, 58 App.D.C. 237, 239, 29 F.2d 437, 439 (1928),* with durable reasoning held:
The condition of traffic in our crowded streets is such that travel by pedestrians is at best difficult and dangerous. If their absolute right to enter upon a crossing when the signal permits it is not sustained, they would be almost without protection. Entering under this invitation, they cannot be charged with contributory negligence, if the signal switches when they are in the street. Caught in this position, the obligation rests upon the drivers of automobiles, not only to observe the situation, but to wait until the crossing is clear.... It is the duty of drivers of machines to exercise the greatest vigilance and care under such circumstances, not only to have their machines under control, but to stop and wait until pedestrians have had an opportunity to clear the crossing. Failure to observe these precautions constitutes negligence on the part of the driver, which in case of accident is chargeable against him.
Likewise, in Paquin v. Boston & Taunton Transp. Co., 69 R.I. 176, 32 A.2d 153 (1943), where a truck proceeded through on a green light and struck a pedestrian although a car was stopped waiting for pedestrians to clear, the Rhode Island Court held that by the exercise of due care the truck driver could have reasonably ascertained pedestrians were present. See also, Werker v. McGrain, 315 Mich. 287, 24 N.W.2d 111 (1946). It is to be remembered that in the case at bar, three cars were stopped at the intersection waiting and this motorist-defendant, by her own testimony, knowing that she always saw children on that intersection, owed a duty to proceed with the highest caution.
As the Washington Supreme Court has held in Lanegan v. Crauford, 49 Wash.2d 562, 304 P.2d 953 (1956), a green light, in reality, is not a command to go, but rather is only a limited permission to pass, having due regard for those already in the intersection. Beautiful analysis. Superb language. A great assemblage of case law holds a driver entering an intersection on a favorable signal may not rely entirely thereon, but must anticipate and allow pedestrians time to clear the intersection. See Hole-man v. Smallwood, 89 Ill.App.3d 796, 45 Ill.Dec. 5, 412 N.E.2d 41 (1980); Huston v. Chicago Transit Authority, 35 Ill.App.3d 428, 342 N.E.2d 190 (1976); Fox v. Calhoun, 34 Ill.App.3d 336, 340 N.E.2d 125 (1975); Duke v. Meisky, 12 N.C.App. 329,183 S.E.2d 292 (1971); Schmitt v. Henderson, 1 Cal.3d 460, 82 Cal.Rptr. 502, 462 P.2d 30 (1969); Hall v. Marshall, 394 F.2d 790 (C.A.6 Tenn.1968); Applebaum v. Hersh, 26 App.Div.2d 58, 270 N.Y.S.2d 805 (1966); Vinet v. Checker Cab Co., 140 So.2d 252 (La.App.1962); Gray v. Felts, 241 Miss. 599, 131 So.2d 454 (1961); Arney v. Bogstad, 199 Va. 460, 100 S.E.2d 749 (1957); Overy v. St. Louis Public *23Service Co., 295 S.W.2d 23 (Mo.1956); Engel v. Davis, 256 Ala. 661, 57 So.2d 76 (1952); Knuth v. Murphy, 237 Minn. 225, 54 N.W.2d 771 (1952); Fielding v. Dickinson, 204 Okl. 372, 230 P.2d 466 (1951); Petersen v. General Rug & Carpet Cleaners, 333 Ill.App. 47, 77 N.E.2d 58 (1947); Ward v. Bowles, 228 N.C. 273, 45 S.E.2d 354 (1947); Werker v. McGrain, 315 Mich. 287, 24 N.W.2d 111 (1946); Kerr v. Floyd, 25 Wash.2d 135, 169 P.2d 349 (1946); Hammond v. Morris, 147 Neb. 600, 24 N.W.2d 633 (1946); Payne’s Adm’r v. Stone, 299 Ky. 704,187 S.W.2d 267 (1945); Moran v. Dumas, 91 N.H. 336, 18 A.2d 763 (1941); Elder v. Rutledge, 217 Ind. 459, 27 N.E.2d 358 (1940); Coffey v. Slingerland, 9 Cal.App.2d 731, 50 P.2d 830 (1935); Stafford v. Jones, 292 Mass. 489, 198 N.E. 745 (1935); Ferguson v. Charis, 314 Pa. 164, 170 A. 131 (1934); Walmer-Roberts v. Hennessey, 191 Iowa 86, 181 N.W. 798 (1921). Case law, you see, for every decade.
In reviewing the settled record herein, I cannot help but to reflect on the motorist’s statement in Johnson v. Jongeling, 328 N.W .2d at 277: “[B]ut I wasn’t looking for a pedestrian I was more or less looking for cars. ... ” The majority opinion in Johnson v. Jongeling approved that type of negligent conduct. Now, this majority opinion reaffirms the impropriety of neglecting to look for pedestrians. This motorist-defendant concentrated on her observation of the traffic light and totally disregarded other rules of the road. This Court should not countenance an implicit message to motorists that they can disregard pedestrians and their safety, for it is our state law that these motorists shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing at an intersection. SDCL 32-27-2. For the frailty of the human body is paramount over the steely substance of the automobile. As I stated in my dissent in American State Bank, 326 N.W.2d at 113, footnote: “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.” (Emphasis added.) I reaffirm that declaration.
The paperboy had to make a split-second decision when the light changed. This decision was triggered by the scanty 14 seconds of green light which he was afforded to cross the intersection. This decision to continue through the intersection was not negligence. He saw no peril in front of him. Three cars were stopped and waiting for him to clear the intersection. His body was not tall enough for his eyes to see another automobile approaching the intersection. He owed no duty to anticipate that an approaching vehicle would not yield the right-of-way unto him. No, the little paperboy was not guilty of contributory negligence. He was guilty only of being a boy and of running as fast as his little legs would carry him, once he discovered that the green light had turned to yellow. Legally, the trial court found him guilty of negligence more than slight which was the alleged proximate cause of collision. I respectfully disagree. The trial court found the defendant guilty of slight negligence which was not the alleged proximate cause of the accident. I respectfully disagree.
I have a definite and firm conviction that a mistake in law was made at the trial court level. Under the clearly erroneous standard set forth in Matter of Estate of Nelson, 330 N.W.2d 151 (S.D.1983), I would reverse and remand. I would adorn the paperboy with appellate grace for “[a] pedestrian who has observed all the rules of the highway and is traversing a street at a regular crossing has the right to stop traffic until he passes by in safety, even as Moses held back the Red Sea.” Frisina v. Dailey, 395 Pa. 280, 284, 150 A.2d 348, 350 (1959). And it is to this thinking that I subscribe.

 The defendant in Griffith had a green light and an automobile on his left was stopped allowing pedestrians to clear the crosswalk, a pedestrian walked out from in front of the stopped car and was struck.