Birchem v. Eggers

Boslaugh, J. This is an action for damages which arose out of a collision between trucks operated by the plaintiff, Daniel W. Birchem, and the defendant, Randal C. Eggers, while driving on intersecting county roads in Cuming County, Nebraska. The defendant’s answer admitted that one of the proximate causes of the collision was his negligence in failing to keep a proper lookout, in failing to maintain his vehicle under reasonable control, and in driving at a speed which was excessive under the circumstances. The defendant further alleged that the plaintiff’s negligence, which was more than slight in comparison to that of the defendant, was also a proximate cause of the collision. Each of the parties moved for summary judgment. The motions were submitted upon the pleadings and the depositions of the parties. The district court sustained the defendant’s motion and dismissed the plaintiff’s petition. The plaintiff has appealed, assigning as error the granting of summary judgment to the defendant. The record shows that at about 10:30 a.m. on October 13, 1986, the plaintiff was traveling south on county Road 9 at a speed of 40 to 50 miles per hour. At about the same time, the defendant was traveling west on county Road K at 45 to 50 miles per hour. The roads were dry, and the defendant said he could see clearly. There was a “Road Closed” sign facing west located on the south side of Road K, 5 feet east of the intersection with Road 9. There was another “Road Closed” sign facing east located on the north side of Road K, 1 mile east of the intersection with Road 9. Prior to the collision, the defendant was driving west on the 1-mile section of Road K that had been closed for work on a bridge. The defendant had driven on Road K to see if Lorrin Toelle was home. The defendant had worked part time for Toelle in the winters, and the defendant wanted to talk to him [777] regarding the upcoming winter and to pay a social call. There was an unharvested cornfield at the northeast corner of the intersection of the county roads. The corn stood at full height and obscured the vision of each driver toward the direction from which the other was traveling. In his deposition, the plaintiff did not recall whether he looked to the left or right upon approaching the intersection. He stated that at about 10 feet from the intersection he would have been able to see what was coming from the east; however, he did not see the defendant’s truck before the collision occurred. The defendant testified in his deposition that he was 10 to 15 feet from the intersection when he first saw the plaintiff’s truck. He could see the side of the plaintiff’s face, and the plaintiff was looking straight ahead. Both men stated that they were familiar with the intersection. The plaintiff had driven through it at least once a day each way since Road K had been closed. He also stated that he was aware that two farm families lived on the section of Road K which had been closed. Both drivers slowed their vehicles as they entered the intersection. The plaintiff entered the intersection at 20 to 25 miles per hour. The defendant was driving 35 to 40 miles per hour at the time of the collision. The defendant testified that he did not apply his brakes at the time of the collision, and the plaintiff does not recollect whether he applied his brakes. In Hodgson v. Gladem, 187 Neb. 736, 742-43, 193 N.W.2d 779, 783 (1972), this court stated the following rule: A car approaching an intersection is not in a favored position and entitled to proceed regardless of the circumstances merely because he is on the right of the other car. His favored position and the right to proceed arising thereunder may be forfeited because of excessive speed under the circumstances____ In this case the undisputed facts show the plaintiff approached a blind, unprotected intersection where he could not see to the left until almost at the intersection and where he had to realize that any car approaching on his left at whatever speed could not see him until it was almost in [778] the intersection, and he did so at a speed which left him no alternative but to enter the intersection irrespective of whatever his observations might disclose when he reached a position where he could see to his left. Under these circumstances he was guilty of contributory negligence more than slight as a matter of law in that he took no precautions whatever for his safety. We hold that a driver approaching an unprotected intersection where he knows and can readily observe that his view is obstructed must do so at such a speed as will afford him a reasonable opportunity to make effective observations for cars approaching on the intersecting road and give him a reasonable opportunity to properly react to the situation he then observes or could observe, and where his view is completely obstructed and his speed is such that he has given himself no opportunity at all to observe and react appropriately he may, where the facts are undisputed, be found negligent as a matter of law. (Citation omitted.) (Emphasis supplied.) Accord, Crink v. Northern Nat. Gas Co., 200 Neb. 460, 263 N.W.2d 857 (1978); Schenk v. Yosten, 229 Neb. 691, 428 N.W.2d 510 (1988). Although the facts in this case are undisputed, the plaintiff contends that the Hodgson rule is not applicable because the intersection in this case was not an unprotected or uncontrolled intersection, since the road on which the defendant approached the intersection had been closed. Relying on Neb. Rev. Stat. § 39-609(5) (Reissue 1988), which provides that one driving on a closed road must do so with extreme care, the plaintiff argues that a motorist approaching an intersection on a closed road has the duty to slow for or, if necessary, yield the right-of-way to a motorist approaching the intersection on a road unburdened by any traffic control device. Moreover, the plaintiff asserts that a motorist approaching an intersection on an open road has the right to assume that any motorist approaching the intersection on a clearly posted closed road will slow for or, if necessary, yield the right-of-way to such motorist. Section 39-609(5) applies to the operation of an automobile while it is on that part of the road which is closed, and requires extreme caution so as to avoid the additional hazards that may [779] be incident to the reason why the road has been closed. In addition to § 39-609(5), the plaintiff relies on Hall v. Kolb, 374 S.W.2d 854 (Ky. 1964), and Rester v. T. L. James Const. Co., 415 So. 2d 272 (La. App. 1982), in support of his argument. However, the Kentucky and Louisiana cases did not involve accidents at intersections which were blind intersections. In the Hodgson case and the Nebraska cases following it, the determinative fact is that the intersections involved were blind, not that they were unprotected. In Hodgson v. Gladem, 187 Neb. 736, 740, 193 N.W.2d 779, 782 (1972), we stated: The underlying purpose of right-of-way rules is, of course, to prevent collisions and they must be applied, together with the other applicable rules relating to the exercise of due care, in such a way that if the rules are observed they will tend to have this result. In the case of an intersection with a completely obstructed view, known to be such by the drivers, there are only two alternatives which can have the desired effect. Either the driver of the automobile not having the directional right-of-way must approach the intersection at such a speed that he can observe down the favored road and can stop if necessary before entering and crossing and the driver on the right be deemed to have an absolute right-of-way and have no duty whatever to keep a lookout to his left, assuming he is traveling within the prima facie lawful speed limit, or both drivers must approach the intersection at such speed that each may effectively exercise an option on how to proceed as may be indicated by circumstances when they reach a point where they can see. The latter we believe is the more acceptable principle. (Emphasis supplied.) The latter is the principle applicable to the facts in this case. Regardless of what the duty is of a motorist approaching a blind intersection from a closed road, a motorist approaching a blind intersection from an open road has the duty to do so at a speed that will afford the motorist a reasonable opportunity to make effective observations for cars approaching on the intersecting road and give such motorist a reasonable [780] opportunity to properly react to the situation he or she then observes or could observe. Where the motorist’s view is completely obstructed and his speed is such that he has given himself no opportunity at all to observe and react appropriately, the motorist is negligent as a matter of law where the facts are undisputed. Hodgson v. Gladem, supra. In this case, although the defendant admitted that he was negligent in approaching the intersection, because the plaintiff approached the intersection at a speed which was too fast to permit him to make a reasonably careful observation and, if required, take reasonable action to avoid a collision, the plaintiff’s negligence was more than slight as a matter of law and barred any recovery he might otherwise be entitled to arising out of the accident. As we said in Schenk v. Yosten, 229 Neb. 691, 428 N.W.2d 510 (1988), it is the negligence of the plaintiff in approaching and entering the intersection at a speed too fast to permit reasonably careful observation and, if required, reasonable action to prevent a collision that bars the plaintiff’s right to recovery as a matter of law. The judgment dismissing the action is affirmed. Affirmed.