Heidner v. Germschied

WHITIN'G, J. Action to recover damages resulting from the killing of a child by an automobile driven by defendant. Verdict and judgment for plaintiff. From such judgment, and an order denying a new trial, this appeal was taken. [1] Appellant objected to the introduction of any evidence upon the ground that the complaint was insufficient to state a cause of action; but he failed to call the attention of the court to any feature wherein the allegations thereof were insufficient. His objection was rightly overruled. [2] Respondent alleged negligence, in that the automobile was running at an unwarranted rate of speed. Appellant assigns error in the receipt of certain testimony regarding such rate of .speed. There was evidence as to the kind of car, the condition •of the roadbed, the place where the 'brakes were applied, the place where the child was struck, and the distance that the car had slid [432] along the ground -before stopping. Two witnesses, who showed themselves familiar with the handling of cars, and who had examined this roadbed and seen the marks made by the sliding car, gave their opinions as to the rate at which the car must have been running. There was no error in the receipt of this evidence. [3] Appellant assigns error in the giving of -certain instructions touching negligence, contributory negligence, and last clear chance. He does not question, and certainly could not rightfully, the legal correctness of such instructions; but he complains that the undisputed facts were such as not to warrant the instructions. We are of the opinion that the instructions were all demanded by the evidence that had been received, and that they fully' and most fairly announced the. law applicable to the facts. [4] Appellant particularly complains because the court did not rule .as a matter of law that the child was--guilty of contributory negligence. He contends that, the evidence bearing thereon was undisputed. The evidence was not without some conflict; but, even if it were not, the court did not err in- leaving to the jury whether the facts proven disclosed contributory negligence. Where different minds might reasonably, reach different conclusions as to an ultimate fact, even though the evidentiary facts are undisputed, the determination of the ultimate fact is clearly for the jury. [5] Appellant also questions the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the verdict. -Construing the evidence, as we must, most favorably to respondent, it discloses that appellant had reason to believe that the children of a country school were enjoying a recess period; that he drove his automobile along the road approaching the school grounds, and when nearing such school grounds saw this child and another running- out toward the road; that this child- ran into the middle of the road, where she was struck'by the automobile; -that appellant first saw this child before she reached the road, and when he was 80, and possibly more than 200, feet up the road from where she was; that, when at least '80 feet' from the child, he applied the brakes to his car; that the -car struck the child and carried her over 90 feet; that a few feet beyond where the car left the child the car, Owing to-application of the brakes, commenced to slide, and slid some' 170 feet before it stopped; that the ground was frozen, but -dry on the [433] surface; that the car was traveling on a downgrade of not to exceed i per cent. To our minds the facts so shown prove to a certainty that the appellant was driving with most wanton recklessness, considering the fact that he was passing a school which ■he had passed but a few moments' before, at wbiob time the children had been out to play and had run out around his car.. [6] If, however, the jury believed appellant’s testimony to the effect that he was not running his car at a rate of speed to exceed 22 miles an hour, then, even though they, had found the child guilty of contributory negligence, they could well have found that appellant, going at that rate of speed, could, after he saw and 'should have realized the peril of the child, easily have turned to the side of the roadway — some 30 feet in width — and avoided striking such child. The judgment and order appealed from are affirmed.