50 S.E.2d 181 | N.C. | 1948
This was an action to recover damages for injury to plaintiff's truck resulting from collision with defendant's truck.
The collision occurred at the intersection of Edenton and Blount Streets in Raleigh. Plaintiff's truck loaded with lumber was proceeding in a westerly direction on Edenton Street, and defendant's truck loaded with commercial fertilizers was being driven north on Blount Street. Edenton Street is a through street, constituting a portion of State Highways 1 and 64, and there was a highway stop sign at the southeast corner of the intersection on Blount Street.
It was alleged, among other things, that the driver of defendant's truck was negligent in failing to stop his vehicle before entering upon the intersection of these streets, and that the collision and damage proximately resulted therefrom. The allegations of negligence were denied in the answer.
Upon issues submitted the jury returned verdict in favor of plaintiff, and from judgment thereon, defendant appealed.
Motion for judgment of nonsuit was properly denied, but we think defendant's exception to a material portion of the court's instruction to the jury must be sustained. The court charged the jury that it was the duty of defendant's driver in approaching the street intersection, under the law, to stop before entering, and "that if he failed to stop that would make him guilty of negligence per se, that is, negligence in itself." In view of the decisions of this Court in Hill v. Lopez,
Plaintiff argued, however, that the duty of a driver approaching this intersection on Blount Street was governed by a city ordinance, and this view apparently influenced the judge below in giving the instruction complained of. The only evidence on this point came from a police officer who testified he cited defendant's driver to court "for violating a city ordinance requiring drivers to bring their vehicles to a stop before entering an intersection where there is a stop sign." The nature and extent of the city ordinance does not appear. But this view cannot be upheld. It was said in Swinson v. Nance, supra, construing this statute, "This view is incorrect, since an ordinance of the town cannot displace the applicable state law, which makes such a failure merely evidence to go to the jury to be considered in the light of the surrounding circumstances." The state statute does not prevent proper municipal traffic regulations but city ordinances which are inconsistent with general state laws regulating the operation of motor vehicles on the highways (including city streets which constitute portions of State highways) are to the extent of such inconsistencies, invalid. S. v. Stallings,
As there must be must be a new trial, it is unnecessary to consider other exceptions noted as they may not arise on another hearing.
New trial.