Hinnant v. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, 202 N.C. 489 (1932)

April 6, 1932 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

202 N.C. 489

WILLIAM TURNER HINNANT v. ATLANTIC COAST LINE RAILROAD COMPANY and ENOCH KING.

(Filed 6 April, 1932.)

1. Highways B k — Where negligence of driver is sole proximate cause of injury to guest, the guest may not recover of third person.

Although the negligence of the driver of an automobile will not ordinarily be imputed to a guest therein when the guest has no control over the ear or driver, the guest may not recover from a third person for injuries suffered in a collision when the negligence of the driver is the sole proximate cause of the accident.

2. Negligence B e — Where only one inference can he drawn from facts admitted, question of proximate cause is for the court.

Although the question of proximate cause is ordinarily for the determination of the jury, where, upon the facts admitted, only one inference can be drawn it is for the court to declare whether a given act or series of acts is the proximate cause of the injury in suit.

3. Negligence B c — Where negligence of third person could not have been reasonably foreseen it insulates prior negligent act.

Where the intervening act of a third person could not have been foreseen by the defendant in the exercise of due care, such intervening act breaks the sequence of events and insulates the prior negligence of the defendant, and in this case held: the allegations of the complaint permitted of but the one inference that the acts of a third person could not have been reasonably foreseen by the defendant, and the defendant’s demurrer to the complaint in an action for damages should have been sustained.

4. Railroads D b — Held: acts of driver were not foreseeable and railroad’s demurrer should have been sustained in action by guest.

Where, in an action against the driver of an automobile and a railroad company to recover damages received by the plaintiff in a collision at a grade crossing, the complaint alleges that the plaintiff was a guest in the automobile and that he had no control over the driver of the car, and that the accident was caused by the negligence of the railroad company in failing to give any warning of the approach of its train at an obstructed grade crossing, and the negligence of the driver of the car in failing to keep his car under control so' that he could observe the law in regard to the speed limit at fifty feet of the crossing and the requirement that the driver should be able to stop the car before attempting to cross, O. S., 2621(46), under the conditions of the road at the time, and that the train came into view when the car was within 69 feet of the crossing but that the driver could not stop the car and that it hit the first or second box car after the engine, causing injury to the plaintiff: Held,, upon the allegation of the complaint the negligence of the driver of the car could not have been reasonably foreseen by the engineer of the train and such negligence on the part of the driver was an intervening, proximate cause of the accident insulating the negligence of the railroad company as a matter of law, and the railroad company’s demurrer should have been sustained.

Civil aotioN, before Harris, J., at June Term, 1930, of Nash.

The plaintiff alleged that on 31 May, 1930, at about nine o’clock in the morning he was a guest, riding in an automobile owned and controlled by the defendant, Enoch King, and at the time was not engaged in a joint enterprise with said driver; that the car was traveling west-wardly along the public highway and • approaching a grade crossing of the defendant, Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company. The track of the railroad at the point where the injury occurred runs northwardly and southwardly. It is alleged: “At this crossing the railroad track runs through a cut and the public road has been graded down through the cut across 'the railroad track so that the view of the railroad employees operating its trains and of persons passing along the public road approaching said track from’the east, was obstructed by a bank of earth and shrubbery growing thereon, sufficiently high to make said crossing a blind crossing. The public road passes over the crest of a hill about 300 feet east of said railroad track and from the crest of said hill the road is an inclined plane to said railroad track, the hill being about 22y% feet higher than the track. ... As the automobile approached the crest of the hill a large sign indicating that a railroad crossing was ahead, appeared on the north side of said road, which sign was erected between the crest of the hill and the railroad track high enough to be plainly visible. ... As defendant, King, drove his automobile over the crest of the hill the crossing sign was even more plainly visible between tbe automobile and tbe railroad track; and tbe track itself, as well as telegraph poles alongside of it, and tbe crossing sign on tbe other side, were plainly visible to tbe driver of tbe automobile. Plaintiff knew defendant, King, was a good and experienced driver and bad no reason whatever to suppose that tbe said King did not see tbe crossing sign and tbe railroad track in front of him, or that said King would not take tbe precaution made necessary thereby. Tbe automobile proceeded at tbe rate of 25 or 30 miles per hour over the crest of tbe bill towards tbe track and down tbe grade. There was nothing to indicate by sight or sound that a train was approaching tbe crossing on tbe railroad track until tbe automobile was 69 feet from tbe eastern rail of tbe track, when a ninety-one car freight train with a heavy locomotive belonging to tbe defendant railroad, going north, burst into view at tbe crossing, appearing suddenly to pláintiff and defendant King from behind tbe embankment to their left, without having blown any whistle or rung any bell, or given any other sign or warning of its approach, and going at high speed. Tbe weather was wet, tbe public road was slick, . . . and tbe grade was steep, and defendant King was driving bis. automobile in a deep rut of wet clay, some 25 or 30 miles per hour, so that, although defendant King applied bis brakes, be was unable to turn out of tbe rut or bring bis automobile to a stop before tbe car collided with tbe first or second freight car behind tbe locomotive, in tbe defendant railroad’s train. Tbe defendant King, before tbe moment of tbe impact and for tbe purpose of saving himself from a position of peril, produced by tbe joint negligence of himself and tbe railroad company, released bis brakes and jumped out of tbe automobile on tbe left-hand side thereof; and as soon as this plaintiff saw that defendant King bad released bis foot brake and bad abandoned all effort to avoid tbe collision by jumping out of tbe car, then this plaintiff endeavored to leave tbe car on tbe right side thereof, but found tbe door locked and tbe lock out of order so that it could not be opened from tbe inside, and then endeavored to leave tbe car on tbe left side, and was leaving same when one of bis pant legs caught on tbe emergency brake lever of tbe automobile, and bis foot was caught between tbe said lever and door frame, at the instant be jumped from tbe car, so that plaintiff was pitched out bead foremost on tbe ground with bis foot caught up in tbe car just at tbe moment tbe front of tbe automobile bit tbe train, causing tbe automobile to swing around against tbe plaintiff and throw plaintiff under tbe train in such a way that plaintiff’s left foot was crushed by tbe wheels of tbe train, and also bis leg between tbe ankle and knee, and bis bead bruised externally and internally, and back and shoulder wrenched,” etc. Plaintiff further alleged that bis serious and permanent injuries were due to tbe joint negligence of tbe railroad company in failing to give a signal at an obstructed crossing. He further alleged tbat tbe defendant King “did not keep careful lookout and negligently failed to observe tbe crossing signs and tbe presence of tbe railroad track at tbe foot of tbe bill, and continued driving bis car down grade toward tbe track at sucb rate of speed tbat under tbe condition of tbe road at tbe time be was unable by applying bis brakes to stop bis car or turn it aside out of danger in tbe space of 69 feet; tbat due to bis carelessness and negligence in failing to beep a proper lookout be was traveling at sucb a rate of speed tbat be was unable to bring tbe speed of bis car down to 15 miles per bour wben approaching within 50 feet of said grade crossing, notwithstanding tbat bis view was obstructed within tbe meaning of C. S., 2621(46) and was unable to bring bis automobile to a stop within 50 feet but not closer than 10 feet from said railroad track as required by law, said crossing being sign-posted, both of which violations of law were tbe necessary result of bis prior negligence in not exercising tbe care required of an ordinarily prudent man in keeping a lookout along tbe road; tbat if plaintiff was not injured by tbe negligence of both defendants, they being joint tort-feasors. as alleged, then tbe plaintiff was injured by tbe negligence of either Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company or Enoch King, and in tbat event plaintiff is in doubt as to tbe party defendant from whom be is entitled to redress.”

Tbe defendants filed demurrers to tbe complaint. Tbe defendant, Enoch King, demurred to tbe complaint on tbe ground of misjoinder of parties defendant and causes of action, and tbat said causes of action against tbe defendant, King, and tbe Railroad Company were inconsistent and repugnant to each other. Tbe defendant Railroad Company demurred upon tbe ground tbat tbe complaint did not state facts-sufficient to constitute a cause of action against said defendant for tbat tbe allegations of tbe complaint establish tbat tbe plaintiff was injured solely and proximately by tbe negligence of tbe driver, Enoch King, and upon tbe further ground of misjoinder of parties and causes of action.

At tbe bearing tbe trial judge overruled both demurrers and both defendants appealed to tbe Supreme Court.

Battle <& Winslow for plaintiff.

T. T. Thorne for defendant, Enoch King.

Thomas W. Davis and Spruill & Spruill for Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company.

Beogden, J.

What are tbe tests established by law in determining wben tbe negligence of tbe driver of an automobile “is tbe sole, proximate cause” of an injury to a passenger therein resulting from the collision between the automobile and a train at a grade crossing?

This Court has held with unbroken uniformity that the negligence of the driver of an automobile is not ordinarily imputed to a passenger who neither owns the car nor has any control of the car or driver, and who is not engaged in a joint enterprise with the driver at the time of his injury. Nevertheless, if the negligence of the driver is the “sole, proximate cause” of the injury, the passenger is not entitled to recover. Earwood, v. R. R., 192 N. C., 27, 133 S. E., 180.

It is not deemed essential to elaborate the definition of proximate cause or to discuss the intricate learning developed by courts and text-writers in dealing with that elusive term. Courts generally are committed to the proposition that if the facts are admitted and so clear that “there can be no two opinions among men of fair minds,” or that “only one inference may be drawn from them,” it is the duty of the court to declare whether a given act or series of acts is the proximate cause of the injury. Otherwise the question must be submitted to a jury. Harton v. Telephone Co., 141 N. C., 455, 54 S. E., 299; Taylor v. Stewart, 172 N. C., 203, 90 S. E., 134; Lineberry v. R. R., 187 N. C., 786, 123 S. E., 1.

In the present case the facts are set out in the complaint and the demurrers admit them to be true. Hence the question to be determined is whether such facts produce the conclusion that the acts of the driver constituted “the sole proximate cause of the injury.”

The usual tests heretofore recognized by this Court may be classified as follows: (1) The negligence of the driver must be such as to bar his recovery if he should sue for any injury sustained by him. Pridgen v. Produce Co., 199 N. C., 560, 155 S. E., 247. In that case, Connor, J., writes: “If the conduct of the driver of the automobile was not such negligence as would bar his recovery, it is manifest that such conduct was not negligence insulating the negligence of the defendant, and therefore relieving defendant of liability to the plaintiff in this action, because its negligence was not the proximate cause of her injuries.”

(2) The negligence of the driver must be palpable and gross. Herman v. R. R., 197 N. C., 718, 150 S. E., 361. In that case, Stacy, G. J., says: “Even if the engineer or fireman did fail to ring the bell or sound the whistle, of which there is only negative testimony with positive evidence to the contrary, still the defendant had a right to operate the train over its track, and the negligence of the driver of the automobile is so palpable and gross, as shown by plaintiff’s own witnesses, as to render his negligence the sole proximate cause of the injury.”

(3) If the act of the driver is a new, independent, efficient and wrongful cause, intervening between the original wrongful act and the injury, then such act of such driver is deemed to be the proximate cause of the injury, upon the theory that the primary or original negligence was thereby insulated. Craver v. Cotton Mills, 196 N. C., 330, 145 S. E., 510. In that case, Adams, J., declares the law to be: “While there may be more than one proximate cause, that which is new and entirely independent breaks the sequence of events and insulates the original or primary negligence. This principle would apply if it should be granted that the defendant was negligent with respect to the light in the tower.” To the same effect is the opinion of Clarkson, J., in Lineberry v. R. R., 187 N. C., 786, 123 S. E., 1: “It is well settled that where the facts are all admitted, and only one inference may be drawn from them, the court will declare whether the act was the proximate cause of the injury or not. In the instant case the facts are all admitted, and the independent cause intervening — Qualls’ pushing Line-berry under the train — was the sole proximate cause of the injury.”

(4) The new, independent, efficient intervening cause must begin to operate subsequent to the original act of negligence and continue to operate until the instant of injury. Ballinger v. Thomas, 195 N. C., 517, 142 S. E., 761.

Foreseeability is the test of whether the intervening act is such a new, independent and efficient cause as to insulate the original negligent act. That is to say, if the original wrongdoer could reasonably foresee the intervening act and resultant injury, then the sequence of events is not broken by a new and independent cause, and in such event the original wrongdoer remains liable. This idea was expressed by Hoke, J., in Harton v. Telephone Co., 141 N. C., 455, as'follows: “It will be seen that the test laid down by all of these writers, by which to determine whether the intervening act of an intelligent agent which has become the efficient cause of an injury, shall be considered a new and independent cause, breaking the sequence of events put in motion by the original negligence of the defendant, is whether the intervening act and the resultant injury is one that the author of the primary negligence could have reasonably foreseen and expected. If the intervening act was of that character, then the sequence of events put in motidn by the primary wrong is not broken, and this may still be held the proximate cause of the injury. Numerous and well considered decisions by courts of the highest authority show that this is a correct statement of the doctrine.”

The complaint paints the following picture: The driver of an automobile along a public road intersected by a railroad track, arrives at the crest of a hill 300 feet from the track. The hill is 22x/2 feet higher tban tbe track. His vision to tbe left is obstructed by shrubbery growing upon tbe right of way. There is a crossing sign plainly visible, and telegraph poles along the tracks give warning of the presence of a railroad. The'road is wet and slippery. Notwithstanding, the driver does not slacken his speed or attempt to bring his car under control, but drives ahead at the rate of 25 or 30 miles an hour. A heavy freight train, more than a half mile long, drawn by a large locomotive traveling at high speed, is approaching the crossing, but gives no signal. When the driver of the automobile reaches a point 69 feet from the track the freight train “burst into view at the crossing.” The law says to all drivers-that, when they approach within. 50 feet of an obstructed grade crossing, they must slow down to 15 miles an hour, but the voice of the law was unheeded. He attempted to stop the car, but he was operating it, under the circumstances, in such a manner that he could not control it, and thereupon he leaped from the car, leaving his passenger to his fate. The car plunges ahead and strikes the train at the first or second freight car behind the engine.

The allegations of the complaint, if supported by evidence, establish a cause of action against the defendant, King, and,.therefore, the question is: Was his negligence a new, independent and efficient cause breaking the sequence of events produced by the failure of a railroad to give a signal, and insulating or isolating such negligence, thereby becoming the “sole proximate cause” of the injury % Applying the tests recognized by law, could the engineer of the train in failing to give the signal reasonably foresee that the driver of the automobile, hearing a signal or seeing the train on the crossing 69 feet away, would not have control of his car or operate it in violation of law at such a speed that it could not be stopped within 69 feet ? The Court is of the opinion that the law did not impose upon the engineer the duty of foreseeing such negligent acts of the driver of the automobile. Foreseeability is not omniscience. “The law does not require omniscience.” Gant v. Gant, 197 N. C., 164, 148 S. E., 34.

Hence the demurrer of the Railroad Company should have been sustained. The judgment overruling the demurrer of defendant, King, is sustained.

Having disposed of the appeal as indicated, it is deemed unnecessary to discuss other exceptions appearing in the record.

Appeal by railroad reversed.

Appeal by King affirmed.