125 Wash. 316 | Wash. | 1923
The plaintiff, Ridgeway, commenced this action in the superior court for Pierce county, seek
Ridgeway, while walking southerly across the paved roadway of Edison avenue, about 120 feet west of the intersection thereof with the roadway of south M street, in Tacoma, was struck by the automobile being driven easterly by Lewis. The avenue runs approximately east and west, while M street runs approximately north and south. There is no sidewalk on either of them at or to the west or south of the intersection, other than a path used by pedestrians along the north side of the avenue roadway extending for a distance of several blocks'to the west of the intersection. While the roadway of the avenue is paved for vehicle travel, it is not otherwise improved; it being improved substantially as country highways are generally improved by paving. M street to the north of the avenue and the avenue to the west of M street constitute a portion of the Pacific Highway, a much traveled thoroughfare by vehicles between the central portion of the city and the country to the southwest.
At the point where Ridgeway was crossing the paved roadway of the avenue, the pavement is twenty feet
“When I saw the defendant’s car it was about 300 ft. or such a matter. I judge it by the three telephone poles, when I started to cross. When I observed this I was right at the edge of the pavement ready to cross. It takes four or five or six seconds for me to cross. I was walking the ordinary gait going up the hill. I had crossed the Boulevard I should judge within six feet of the edge. I was past the. center I know. There were only the two cars in sight. Defendant’s car hit me mighty fast — seemed to be going mighty fast. When he blew his horn he struck me on the right shoulder.
*319 “I heard his horn and he hit me. It was blowing when he hit me. He just blew aud down I went. I saw his ear before I started to cross the street. Then I went across the street with the umbrella over my head. What wind there was was coming from the east. I would have the umbrella more against the rain than the other way. The umbrella was higher on the side towards Lewis. He was oh my right hand approaching me. I knew he was coming. I was going right across. I could see his car coming and I thought he would go to the back. I couldn’t see him all the time but I always kept ivatch both ways in crossing and I was keeping watch then. There was nothing to interfere with my seeing him except the umbrella. I could turn and look up. I could see him. I was going right across. It would be hard to tell how many times I saw him while I Avas Avalking across the street. I Avas at all times aware of his approach and saw him at my right side as I was crossing. He Avas right on me when he blew his horn. I didn’t jump either way. I didn’t have time. I saw him before I started to cross the road. I judge about 300 ft. or more and I started across expecting to get across. . . .
“Of course I realized that he was coming right on down but I didn’t know he Avas coming so fast as he Avas. . . .”
It seems clear to us that this version given by RidgeAvay as to what he then did in the way of looking and making himself aware of the approach of the automobile being driven by Lewis and his proceeding across the roadivay leaves little room for arguing that he can be held, as a matter of law, of being guilty of con-tributory negligence resulting in his injury. The jury’s finding, of course, settles the question of Lewis’ negligence, which, it seems, they must have vieAved as consisting largely of his excessive rate of speed. If it be true, as the jury were warranted in belieAung, in the light of Ridgeway’s testimony above noticed, that
The judgment is affirmed.
Fullerton, Tolman, and Pemberton, JJ., concur.