215 N.C. 773 | N.C. | 1939
Lead Opinion
This is an action for the wrongful death of the plaintiff’s intestate alleged to have been caused by the negligent failure of the defendant to avail itself of the last clear chance to avoid running its train over and fatally injuring the plaintiff’s intestate while on the track of the defendant. At the close of the plaintiff’s evidence the defendant’s motion for judgment as in ease of nonsuit was allowed, and from judgment accordant with the court’s ruling the plaintiff appealed, assigning as error such ruling and judgment.
The evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, tended to show that about 1:55 a.m., on 18 July, 1938, the plaintiff’s intestate, Edward George, was “lying down upon the tracks” of the defendant, and was run over by the train of the defendant moving in a southern direction, and the track of the defendant was straight, practically level and unobstructed from the place where the intestate was lying in a northern direction for approximately 1,500 yards, or three-fourths of a mile; the night was clear and fair; the train was travelling approximately 30 miles per hour and carried 25 ears; the headlight and brakes of the train were in proper order and the train could have been stopped within 300 or 400 feet; that the engineer did not see anybody on the track, but about 5:25 o’clock of the same morning he found particles of flesh on the “left back drive of the brake head of the engine.”
Defendant’s first contention that the evidence of the plaintiff tending to show that the intestate was lying down upon the track was incompetent, cannot be sustained. The evidence consisted of the testimony of Dr. J. E. Terry, the coroner, whom the court held to be a medical expert, and was to the effect that he went to the scene before the body of the intestate had been removed, and judging “from the nature, the condition and position of the wounds,” he had an opinion satisfactory to himself that “the deceased was lying down upon the tracks at the time the same were inflicted.” This evidence was competent under the authority of McManus v. R. R., 174 N. C., 735, where Holce, says: “It was also urged for error that Dr. McCoy, a witness for plaintiff, who had made a professional examination of the intestate at the time, was allowed, over defendant’s objection, to testify that, ‘from the nature, condition and position of the wounds, he was of opinion that the intestate was lying down at the time the same was inflicted.’ It will be noted that this witness, admitted to be an expert, spoke from a professional and personal examination of the intestate, and the answer, to our minds, was clearly within the domain of expert opinion. Both question and answer are approved and upheld, we think, in Ferebee v. R. R., 167 N. C., 290; Parrish v. R. R., 146 N. C., 125; S. v. Jones, 68 N. C., 443.”
Applying this statement of the law to evidence in the instant case, we have (1) the testimony of Dr. Terry that in his opinion the deceased was lying down upon the track at the time the fatal wounds were inflicted. This was sufficient to be submitted to the jury upon the first requisite laid down by the court.
As to whether (2) the engineer could have discovered the deceased in time to stop the train before reaching him, by the exercise of ordinary care, we have the evidence that the track was straight, level and unobstructed for three-quarters of a mile in the direction from which the train approached the deceased, the night was clear and fair, the train was running 30 miles per hour, and the brakes and headlight were in proper condition and the train could have been stopped within 300 or 400 feet. This was sufficient evidence to be submitted to the jury upon the second requisite laid down by the court. In Deans v. R. R., 107 N. C., 686 (696), Avery, J., in speaking to a state of facts similar to those of the instant case, says: “The jury were at liberty to exercise their own common sense and to use the knowledge acquired by their observation and experience in everyday life in solving the question whether the engineer, in the exercise of due diligence, might have discovered, from his elevated position on the engine, the fact that plaintiff’s intestate was lying helpless across the rail, and whether by prompt and strenuous effort he could have saved his life without putting hib passengers in jeopardy. . . . Courts and juries acting within their respective provinces must take notice of matters of general knowledge and use their common sense where the evidence makes the issue of law or fact depend upon their exercise.”
As to whether (3) the engineer failed to exercise ordinary care and as a result thereof the deceased was killed, we have the testimony of the engineer himself that he did not see the deceased, and all of the evidence tends to show that the engine struck, ran over and killed the deceased.
When we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, as we must do upon a motion to nonsuit, we are constrained to hold that his Honor erred in sustaining the demurrer to the evidence.
Reversed.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting. The deceased lived in a shanty car parked on a siding on the east side of the track near Ella Station. There was a main track, sidetrack, and house track. The deceased was carried home by friends about 11:30 on the night of 17 July. He entered his shanty car sometime after 12:00 o’clock. The train, which it is not seriously denied struck him, passed that point about 1:55 a.m., 18 July. The next morning the mangled body of the deceased was found on the east side of the main track near the frog where the sidetrack and house track branch off from the main track. There was evidence that there was no sign on any part of the front part of the engine that it had struck a human being. The first signs found were on the brakehead approximately 35 feet back from the front of the cowcatcher. There were signs between the two main drivewheels and under the cab. The only evidence in the record that the deceased was prone on the track at any time is the evidence of the physician, who testified that in his opinion, from the nature, condition, and position of the wounds, the deceased was lying down upon the track at the time the same were inflicted; that the body was lying between the rails when it was found, and that: “I say that he was lying on the track on account of the wound. We do not know that someone did not throw him under the wheel. We do not know that he did not jump under the train.” There was also evidence that the headlight on the train was in good condition and was on at the time; that the brakes on the train were likewise in good condition, and that the engineer and fireman were keeping a lookout and saw no one.
It is well established in this jurisdiction that negligence on the part of a railroad company is not presumed from the mere fact that the mangled “body of a person is found on or near the track, or from the fact that a train struck a person on the track. Harrison v. R. R., 204 N. C., 718, and cases there cited; Upton v. R. R., 128 N. C., 173; Clegg v. R. R., 132 N. C., 292. To establish negligence in a case of this type, plaintiff is required to prove: (1) That the deceased was down on the track in an apparently helpless condition; (2) that the engineer or fireman saw or, by the exercise of ordinary care in keeping a proper lookout, could have seen the deceased in such position a sufficient distance ahead to stop the train before injuring him; and (3) that the engineer
In my opinion tbe evidence relied upon by tbe plaintiff is not sufficient to establish a prima facie case of negligence. Tbat tbe deceased was prone on tbe track at the time be received tbe injuries does not prove, or tend to prove, tbat be was prone on tbe track at tbe time tbe train approached. As stated by tbe physician, we do not know whether be was thrown under tbe wheel or jumped or staggered into tbe train, or stepped in front of tbe train when it was so near tbat it was impossible for tbe train to be stopped. As to when be got on tbe track is left in tbe field of speculation. Tbat bis legs were cut off and one arm and bis bead were severed from the body would seem to indicate, circumstantially at least, tbat be . was prone at tbe instant be received bis wounds, but this could not be held for evidence tbat be was lying on tbe track in an apparently helpless condition not possessed of bis faculties a sufficient distance ahead of tbe train so tbat tbe crew, by tbe exercise of reasonable care, could have seen him in time to stop tbe train and avoid tbe injury.
Tbe evidence offered by tbe plaintiff tends strongly to show tbat this was not tbe fact. There was no sign on tbe front of the train. Tbe first indication tbat tbe train bad come in contact with a human being was at a point 30 or 35 feet back from tbe front. Furthermore, tbe plaintiff offered evidence tending to show tbat tbe engineer and fireman were keeping a lookout and did not see any object on tbe track ahead of tbe train.
Tbe deceased retired to bis shanty after 12:00 o’clock a.m. He was struck by a passing train about 1:55 a.m. When and why be left bis shanty after retiring and just bow and under what conditions be came in contact with tbe passing train is unsolved by this record. An explanation thereof can be arrived at only by speculation and surmise. There is no evidence tending to explain the same.
Tbe record is devoid of any fact or circumstance tending to establish negligence on tbe part of tbe defendant. In my opinion tbe judgment dismissing tbe action as of nonsuit should be sustained.
