Court Opinion

ID: 9577250
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:33:24.555248+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:20:13.696293
License: Public Domain

Fox, Judge,
dissenting:
I dissent from the opinion of the majority in this case, and my reason therefor will be found in that part of the majority opinion where the evidence of the witness Barger is quoted at some length. Barger was plaintiff’s witness and, of course, the truth and accuracy of his testimony was vouched for by the plaintiff. Treating his testimony as true, there should be no reasonable doubt as to how the accident occurred. We may imagine, speculate and make conjecture as to how the accident might qr could have happened; but in the face of a statement under oath as to how it actually did happen, we are not at liberty to indulge in conjecture, imagination or speculation. Bar-ger’s testimony clearly shows that when the accident, resulting in the death of Montgomery, occurred, the automobile being driven by the defendant Anderson was on the west, or right side of the highway in the direction it was traveling; that when it passed Barger it barely missed him; that he was then on the extreme western side of the highway, and may have had one foot on the western berm thereof; that just as he was turning his head he heard the impact of the automobile with Montgomery which caused his death. Barger and Montgomery were on the east side of the highway before the accident. When they started to cross the highway behind the bus, which occupied most of the east side of the paved portion of the highway, Barger led the way and Montgomery followed him a short distance behind, described as two or three steps in one statement, and one or two steps in another. Barger, when he was over the center of the highway looked to his right or north and saw an automobile coming. Instead of stopping in a safe place, he took the risk *807of being able to cross the highway in face of the oncoming vehicle, and barely escaped being struck thereby. It is clear to me that Montgomery, being close behind Barger, took the same risk and lost his life. Perhaps his act was impulsive, but it was nevertheless negligence on his part which proximately contributed to the accident which resulted in his death. Being that character of negligence it bars recovery on the part of his personal representative.
The position of Montgomery’s body after the accident and the presence of glass on the east side of the highway is of little significance. We can rarely give a reason for the position of a vehicle or an injured or dead person where physical forces are involved. Where there is nothing else to rely on, such evidence may be resorted to. In this case, however, we have testimony of plaintiff’s own witness, the truth and accuracy of which is vouched for by him, which clearly explains how plaintiff’s decedent lost his life. In my opinion, had the case been submitted to the jury, and a verdict in favor of the plaintiff returned, the trial court would have been compelled to set it aside. It is elementary that in such cases a directed verdict for the defendant is warranted. I would affirm the judgment of the trial court.