Lochhead v. Jensen

STRAÜP, J. This is an action to recover damages for the death of William S. Lochhead, alleged to have been caused' by the negligence of the defendant. In the complaint it is alleged that tbe deceased, at the invitation of the defendant, entered the defendant’s automobile to take a ride, and that “tbe defendant acted as operator or driver of bis said automobile, and determined and regulated' the speed at which it should ran, and while the deceased' was so riding with him as his guest, at or near Pleasant View, in utter disregard of his duty in that respect, the defendant negligently, carelessly, and recklessly caused his said automobile to ran at a furious and dangerous rate of speed, to wit, at the rate of about fifty miles an hour, and so fast that the automobile violently jumped and overturned, thereby forcibly throwing the deceased upon and against the ground,” by reason of which he was injured and killed. The foregoing allegations with respect to the speed at which the automobile was operated are the only charged acts of negligence. They were put in issue. The trial resulted in a verdict and judgment in favor of the plaintiffs.. The defendant appeals. He claims that the evidence is insufficient to support the allegations of negligence, and that the court erred1 in the charge. The evidence shows that the deceased entered the defendant’s automobile at the defendant’s invitation, and that the automobile was operated by the defendant along a highway in the country. The accident happened between -three and four o’clock in the afternoon. There were three persons in the automobile, the defendant, the deceased, and one Sanderson. Sanderson, a witness called by the plaintiffs, testified that the speed of the automobile at the time of the accident was about fifteen miles an hour; that at the place of the accident there were “dust holes” or “ruts” in the road; that it was “pretty rough;” that the ruts or holes were partially covered or filled with dust or sand; and that the auto [101] mobile struck or “bumped” into one of tbe boles or ruts and “slid” or “skidded” first to tbe one side and then to tbe other of tbe road, and left it and ran into or over a diteb and “somersaulted,” casting tbe deceased out. He further testified that “it would not have been possible for us to observe that there was a depression or ditch where this machine went off of tbe main line;” that “there was nothing to obscure our vision ahead when we were approaching this place,” but, “approaching the place where the machine went down, looking ahead it presented the appearance of the level of a street.” Other witnesses for plaintiffs testified that the road at the place of the accident was smooth and in good condition, except for dust and small ruts; that shortly after the accident they noticed tracks of the automobile, showing that it had moved from one side of the road to the other and went down the embankment. Another witness testified that he saw the tracks where the automobile left the road, and that they led to a “chuck hole” in the road, which was struck by the automobile. Other witnesses for the plaintiffs testified that between two and three o’clock they, some distance from the place of the accident, met an automobile goipg “very fast,” in which were three men; but they were unable to identify or describe either the automobile or the occupants. Still another witness, about 350 feet away, drying fruit, testified that she heard the noise of the automobile, glanced down the road, and it appeared' to her “like the machine raised right up in the middle of the road, like the front wheels went in the air,” and “then- turned to the south of the road” and went over. The defendant testified that, while operating the automobile in about the center of the road!, along the place of the accident, at a speed of about fifteen or eighteen miles an hour, “the machine skidded to the north and then to the south and went off the road, and, as I was trying to get.back on the road, struck something and turned over. . . . Just before this there were chuck holes in the road.” The machine “struck the chuck holes. There were three or four right close together. . . . That caused me to turn over this way a little and [102] then to the left. . . . The machine skidded and then jumped off into the ditch.” 1 Now, upon this evidence, what was the highest speed' the jury were licensed to find the automobile was run at the time of the accident ? We think at fifteen or eighteen miles an hour. The testimony of those that they, some distance from the place of the accident and half an hour or more before it occurred, met an automobile going ‘Very fast,” in which were three men, but were unable to identify or describe either the automobile or the occupants, is of no consequence. Nor is the testimony of the fruit dryer that she glanced down the road and saw what appeared to her the “front wheels of the automobile go in the air,” the machine go off the road, and down the embankment, without even an opinion as to the speed at which it was operated. 2 Now, were the jury licensed to say that operating an automobile on a public highway outside of an incorporated city or town at a speed of from fifteen to eighteen miles an hour was negligent? Under the statute (chapter 113, Sess. Laws 1909) it was lawful at such a place to operate an automobile at a speed not to exceed twenty miles an hour. Of course, a jury is permitted to say in some instances, dependent upon the particular attendant facts and circumstances, that the operation of an automobile within the speed limit as fixed by statute or ordinance is nevertheless negligent. Were they permitted to do so here? We think not, for the reason that sufficient facts and circumstances attendant upon and surrounding the case were not shown upon which the conclusion of negligence in such particular may be predicated. Certainly a jury could not be permitted to predicate such negligence on the mere fact that the automobile was operated at a speed of from fifteen to eighteen miles an hour. No facts or circumstances were here shown, except that the road at the place of the accident was dusty or sandy; that there were ruts or chuck holes in the road, but the character or extent of them not shown or described; and that the road was “pretty rough.” The plaintiffs in this [103] particular, by tbeir evidence, endeavored to show that the road was in good condition and smooth; the defendant that it was somewhat rough. The former to prove themselves out of court; the latter in. For whatever license the jury had to predicate negligence upon a speed of from fifteen to eighteen miles an hour because of a bad condition of the road, the plaintiffs did all they could to destroy it by showing that the road was smooth and good; and the defendant Iried as hard to keep himself in by endeavoring to show that the road was bad. We do not think he quite succeeded. We think the evidence was not sufficient to let the case to the jury on the alleged negligence. 3 Now as to the charge. Notwithstanding the single act of alleged negligence — running the automobile at a high and dangerous rate of speed — the court nevertheless charged that if the jury found that the defendant “was driving said car negligently or carelessly, or if you believe that he was driving at a reckless or dangerous rate of speed,” and that “the death resulted directly and proximatelv from such negligence or carelessness, then you should find” for the plaintiffs. Again, the court charged that if the jury found that “the defendant was not in the exercise of reasonable care in the operation of his said car, and that by reason thereof the injury occurred to the said deceased, and the said negligence of the said defendant was the direct and proximate cause of the said injury,” then the defendant liable. The court also charged that it was the duty of the defendant- in operating the automobile “to use due diligence in the driving of the same, so as to have it under reasonable control at all times to avoid injury; and it is the duty of the driver of said car to keep a reasonable lookout for any obstructions or dangers that may be in the road,upon which he is driving, and if he fails to do so, arid through his negligence causes injury to others, then he is liable therefor.” The court further charged that in determining whether or not the defendant “was exercising reasonable care” the jury might consider “the manner in which the defendant was driving” and “the speed at which he was [104] driving.” It is tiras seen tbat tbe charge clearly presented to tbe jury questions of negligence far beyond tbat charged in tbe complaint, and permitted tbe jury to base a verdict, not only upon the negligence alleged, but also upon any negligent or careless operation, management, control, or driving of tbe automobile, or failure to observe or beep a reasonable lookout for obstructions or dangers in the road. That tbe charge, in view of tbe alleged negligence, was erroneous and prejudicial needs no argument. 4 Since tbe judgment, for tbe reasons indicated, must be reversed and a new trial granted, it is also proper to say that the contentions of ‘the appellant tbat be was entitled to go to tbe jury upon tbe question of contributory negligence of tbe deceased and of “imputed” negligence of tbe defendant, if any, to tbe deceased, are wholly groundless. There is no evidence to show tbat tbe deceased did or said, or failed to do or say, anything, except tbat be, at tbe invitation of tbe defendant, sat in tbe back seat of tbe automobile, and was thrown over tbe embankment and killed. There is no evidence to show tbat be bad or exercised any control over or direction of tbe operation or handling of the automobile, or tbat be in any particular consented to or acquiesced in the manner of its operation. Tbe appellant has urged' tbat “tbe ride in tbe automobile was tbe mutual enjoyment of all three” occupants, and since the plaintiff did not show tbat tbe deceased protested against tbe manner of its operation it must be presumed tbat be acquiesced therein; and therefore tbe negligence, if any, of the defendant must be imputed to tbe deceased. In view of tbe evidence, tbe appellant is wrong, both as to tbe burden of proof and tbe law. Tbe ruling of tbe court in refusing to submit such questions to tbe jury on the evidence adduced was right. , For tbe reasons heretofore given, tbe judgment of tbe court below is reversed and a new tidal granted. Costs to tbe appellant. FRICK, C. J., and McCAKTY, J., concur.