Bassford v. P. C. C. & St. L. Ry. Co.

73 S.E. 926, 70 W. Va. 280, 1912 W. Va. LEXIS 17

• Court: West Virginia Supreme Court
• Decided: February 6, 1912
• Status: Published

Opinion

BobiNSON, Judge:

Plaintiff’s decedent was killed by a train of the defendant company at a railroad crossing on one of the streets in Wells-bnrg. The action is for the recovery of damages on the ground of alleged negligence in running the train so as to cause the loss of life. At the trial, the court sustained defendant’s motion to exclude the evidence offered by plaintiff, as being insufficient to maintain the issue on his part, and diretccd a verdict for defendant. Plaintiff insists that the evidence introduced by him warranted the submission of the case to the jury. He seeks a reversal and a hew trial.

There is no error. The case is ruled by principles enunciated in Riedel v. Traction Co., 63 W. Va. 522. The evidence was properly excluded. It proved that plaintiff’s decedent came to his death by hiis own contributory negligence. Two minds cannot reach different conclusions on the facts proved in this particular. The act of the unfortunate young man in stepping on the track at one side of the crossing when the engine was already at tibie other side of the crossing was unquestionably contributory negligence. He could have seen the train if he had looked before stepping on -the track. There was nothing to obstruct his full view of the train, as he approached the track. His faculties of sense were good. Others, from positions no better than his, saw the train approaching. Its bright headlight was clearly discernible. The evidence is conclusive that he either failed to look or assumed a deadly risk in attempting to cross the track in front of the train. There is no conflict of evidence in this regard. Decedent- negligently attempted to cross the track when the train in plain -view was so near him that no prudent man would have taken the risk. If the jury had found a verdict for plaintiff, it would have been the duty of the court to- set aside the 'same.

That those in charge of the train may have been negligent in running the train at an excessive rate of speed, or in failing to give signals, does not alter the case. No one is excusable for stepping in front of a train, though' it is negligently run, when it is only a few feet away and he can plainly see it. He assumes the risk when he does. It is his duty to look and to exercise the prudence which the situation demands. Before crossing a railroad track a person should look both ways and listen for an approaching train. This duty he must perform whenever its performance is reasonably certain to avail. Generally, diversion of attention .does not excuse the performance of the duty; nor does misconduct on the part of the railway company excuse that performance. Patterson on Railway Accident Law, sec. 179; Beach on Contributory Negligence, sees. 180, 181.

Let the judgment be affirmed.

Affmned.