Atlantic Coast Line Railroad v. McLean Trucking Co.

Devin, C. J. This action grew out of the collision between plaintiff’s northbound passenger train and the defendant’s truck at a street crossing in the town of Dunn. The collision occurred about midnight 15 September, 1952. The defendant’s truck was being driven by its employee, John W. Kent, eastward along Cumberland Street and across plaintiff’s tracks, and when the truck was on the easternmost or northbound track it was struck by plaintiff’s train. Damage to plaintiff’s train and to defendant’s truck resulted from the collision. One crossing the plaintiff’s tracks at this point, moving from west to east, would cross first the warehouse track, next the southbound track, and then the northbound track. The plaintiff’s evidence tended to show that the driver of defendant’s truck, without heeding the signals giving warning of the approach of the train, drove on the track in front of the approaching train without stopping or reducing his speed; that the engineer of plaintiff’s train had given timely warning of the approach of the train by blowing the whistle; that the bell was ringing; that the automatic light signals installed on the east side of the crossing were flashing; that there was no obstruction to the view which would have prevented the driver of defendant’s truck from seeing the train if he had looked in time; that a truck proceeding in front of defendant’s truck and in same direction, gave a warning signal to defendant’s truck following. The defendant’s evidence tended to show that one of the crossing signal lights was not working; that the view was partially obstructed; that no warning signals were given by the train in time to be of service, and that plaintiff’s train was being operated across a busy street in the town of Dunn, a town of some 6,000 inhabitants, at the rate of 70 or 75 miles per hour; that no signal was sounded from plaintiff’s engine until immediately before the collision; that the signal given the driver of defendant’s truck by the driver of the truck in front was not such as to be understood by defendant’s driver. Defendant’s truck was being operated at speed of 15 or 20 miles per hour. There was other evidence tending to show measurements of distances, the location of structures, the description of the train lights, the location and character of signal lights, and other attendant circumstances which it is unnecessary to state in detail. But it is apparent from the brief *425 statement we bave bere incorporated tbat tbe evidence presented controverted issues of fact for tbe determination of tbe jury. Tbe plaintiff’s evidence considered in tbe light most favorable for tbe plaintiff was sufficient to carry tbe case to tbe jury and tbe evidence of contributory negligence of plaintiff offered by defendant was not of sucb character as to warrant judgment of nonsuit on tbat ground. It is only when tbe evidence of contributory negligence is so clear tbat no other conclusion may reasonably be drawn therefrom tbat nonsuit on tbat issue, on which tbe defendant has tbe burden of proof, may be justified. Edwards v. Vaughn, ante, 89, 76 S.E. 2d 359; Carruthers v. R. R. Co., 232 N.C. 183, 59 S.E. 2d 782; Bundy v. Powell, 229 N.C. 707, 51 S.E. 2d 307. Tbe case, then, being one properly to be submitted to tbe jury, tbe next question for decision is whether there was error in tbe trial tbat should require a new trial. Tbe appellant assigns error in tbe ruling of tbe trial judge in withdrawing from tbe consideration of tbe jury evidence tbat subsequent to tbe collision tbe plaintiff Railroad Company installed gates at tbe Cumberland Street crossing. It has been generally held tbat testimony of subsequent repairs and changes as evidence of negligence, or as quasi admissions of previous insufficiency, should be excluded, and it has been said tbat this rule is founded on tbe policy “tbat men should be encouraged to improve, or repair, and not be deterred from it by tbe fear tbat if they do so their acts will be construed into an admission tbat they bad been wrongdoers.” Fanelty v. Jewelers, Inc., 230 N.C. 694, 55 S.E. 2d 493; Shelton v. R. R., 193 N.C. 670, 139 S.E. 232; McMillan v. R. R., 172 N.C. 853, 90 S.E. 683; Terre Haute and I. R. Co. v. Clem, 123 Ind. 15. There are exceptions to this rule not bere pertinent. Stansbury on Evidence, see. 180. Tbe ruling of tbe court on this matter, under tbe evidence in this case, may not be held for error. Tbe appellant assigns error in the court’s charge to tbe jury in stating defendant’s contention on tbe fourth issue as follows: “Tbe defendant, on tbe other hand, contends tbat you ought not to answer tbe fourth issue ‘Yes,’ but on tbe contrary tbat you should answer it ‘No,’ and it likewise, in support of tbat contention, relies upon tbe same evidence, tbe identical evidence, tbat it relies upon in support of its contention tbat you ought not to answer tbe first issue ‘Yes,’ and in support of its contention tbat you should answer tbe second issue ‘No.’ ” It is urged tbat tbe jury was told tbat tbe defendant contended tbe jury should answer tbe second issue “No” (tbe issue as to plaintiff’s contributory negligence). This was an inadvertence on tbe part of tbe learned judge who presided over tbe trial of this case, but we are unable to perceive tbat any prejudicial effect could bave resulted. Tbe court bad *426 instructed tbe jury that if they answered the first issue “Yes” and the second issue “No” they need not answer the third and fourth issues which were addressed to defendant’s counterclaim. The quoted portion of the charge specifically referred to the fourth issue and only incidentally referred to the second issue. The court had charged the jury at length as to the second issue and correctly stated the contentions of the defendant thereon, and there is no reason to conclude that the jury was misled. The appellant assigned as error the court’s instructions to the jury as to the doctrine of sudden emergency. The court correctly stated the rule, and submitted the defendant’s contention that its driver was confronted with a sudden emergency and that under this rule the law did not apply to him under those circumstances the degree of care of a prudent man under ordinary conditions, but only required the exercise of the same sort of care in a sudden emergency that an ordinarily prudent man would have exercised similarly situated. Subsequently the court again referred to this rule and added the instruction in relation thereto, in substance, that if the conduct of defendant’s driver prior to the arising of the sudden emergency, brought about or created the sudden emergency, or helped to do so, he could not avail himself of that principle. That is, if he negligently put himself in a place of danger, or he found himself in a place of danger that was a result of his own negligence, he could not avail himself of the rule as to sudden emergency. The appellant argues that in the subsequent instruction of the court on the subject of sudden emergency the jury was told that if the sudden emergency was created by the conduct of the defendant, the principle previously stated would not be available to the defendant, whereas the correct rule is that the conduct of the defendant to render this principle unavailing must have been negligent conduct. However, the court immediately following and in the same connection correctly charged that if the sudden emergency was the result of defendant’s driver’s own negligence, he could not avail himself of the stated principle of sudden emergency. We think the jury understood that the benefit of the doctrine of sudden emergency was available to the defendant, unless the sudden emergency was created or contributed to by the negligence of defendant’s driver. Ingle v. Cassady, 208 N.C. 497, 181 S.E. 562; Hoke v. Greyhound Corp., 227 N.C. 412, 42 S.E. 2d 593; Sparks v. Willis, 228 N.C. 25, 44 S.E. 2d 343. Appellant further argues that after having thus instructed the jury as to the negative side of the rule as to sudden emergency, the court should have again stated the affirmative side and told the jury if the sudden emergency was not created by defendant’s negligence the principle would be available. But the court had already correctly stated the rule of which the defendant had the benefit and was not required again to state it to the jury- *427 The appellant’s assignment of error that the court in charging the jury failed to comply with G.S. 1-180 cannot be sustained. We have examined all the exceptions brought forward in appellant’s assignments of error and find none of them of sufficient substance to overthrow the verdict and judgment below. Controverted issues of fact were resolved by the jury in favor of the plaintiff, and we conclude that in the trial there was No error.