Court Opinion

ID: 6248720
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-17 21:07:49.431379+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:59:21.861296
License: Public Domain

Opinion by
Mr. Justice Fell,
The only question to be considered is whether the facts shown by the plaintiff’s testimony bring the case within the *417established rulé that one who goes in front of a moving train which he had ample opportunity to see and avoid will be conclusively presumed to have been negligent.
The plaintiff’s husband was killed at a grade crossing of the ' defendant’s road, where there were five tracks, in the borough of Wilkinsbuxg. He used the crossing daily and was familiar with all the surroundings. Just before starting to cross the tracks, he stopped and looked east and west. He then walked leisurely over the crossing and was struck by the engine of an express train running east on the fourth track. The road west from the crossing was practically straight for 1,685 feet, and it was actually straight to Penn avenue, a distance of 1,445 feet. It was daylight and there was nothing to obstruct his view of the train.
The testimony of the only witness to the occurrence called by the plaintiff was distinct that the train had crossed Penn avenue and was in clear view when the deceased started to cross the tracks. Whether it was in view when he looked did not appear from the testimony, and the case was submitted to the jury on the narrow question whether the train came in view after the deceased had looked. This submission allowed the jury to base its verdict on a mere supposition that was unsupported by the testimony and was in conflict with any conclusion that could be drawn from it. The deceased was walking, there was nothing to interfere with his view or ' to distract his attention. He stopped close to the first track, looked east, then west toward the train and as he started forward the train was in clear view east of Penn avenue and it had been in clear view while traveling 240 feet before it reached the avenue. Looking and starting forward required but an instant; there was no appreciable time between these acts. The conclusion is irresistible that the deceased saw the train and took' the chance of crossing in front of it.
' The judgment is reversed and judgment is now entered for the defendant.