Goosen v. Packard Motor Car Co.

140 N.W. 947, 174 Mich. 654, 1913 Mich. LEXIS 506
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedApril 8, 1913
DocketDocket No. 101
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 140 N.W. 947 (Goosen v. Packard Motor Car Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Goosen v. Packard Motor Car Co., 140 N.W. 947, 174 Mich. 654, 1913 Mich. LEXIS 506 (Mich. 1913).

Opinion

Mooee, J.

This is an action to recover damages for personal inj uries. The plaintiff, at the time of his injury, a lad of 13 years of age, was riding a bicycle in the easterly direction upon Jefferson avenue, in the city of Detroit. He was accompanied by a companion some three years older than himself. When near McDougall avenue, the boys overtook a motor truck belonging to defendant. The truck likewise was proceeding easterly upon Jefferson avenue. It was a heavy service truck weighing about three tons, and capable of carrying a load of equal weight, and was running at a speed of from 8 to 10 miles per hour. It was in charge of one Heberling, an experienced driver, who was accompanied by one Long. Both these men were employes of defendant, and were at the time of the accident returning to the Packard factory with a load of freight. Having overtaken-the truck, the plaintiff and his companion determined to pass it. In doing this plaintiff turned out to the left, while his companion turned out to the right. After passing the truck, the plaintiff in some manner fell in front of the truck, and the left front wheel passed over his legs causing very serious and permanent injuries. The truck, which had a wheel base of 135 inches, was stopped by Heberling before the rear wheel passed over the plaintiff. The accident occurred upon a wide street paved with asphalt, at about 8:30 o’clock in the morning. It had been raining prior to the time of the accident and the pavement was still wet. Plaintiff was an experienced rider of a bicycle. In run[656]*656ning over plaintiff the truck did not swerve from the straight course upon which it was proceeding. These facts are all undisputed upon the record.

The plaintiff alone was sworn in his own behalf as to the manner in which the accident occurred. He testified that in passing the truck he traveled between the southerly street car track and the truck, about three feet south of the car track; that while going ahead upon a straight course and when approximately 100 feet ahead of the truck his wheel slipped and he fell, his feet being toward the truck and his head toward the street car track. He further testified:

l‘Q. Did you become entangled with the bicycle?
“A. Yes, my leg got tangled in the wheel; there was a little cut there.
“Q. What did yon see the motor truck do at the time ?
“A. I was looking towards it and saw it coming when the fellow on the left side had his head down like that and the other fellow driving was looking towards the river.
“Q. Did you try to get out of the way?
“A. Yes, but I could not, though.
“Q. Why not?
“A. Because my leg hurt and I was caught by the wheel and could not.
“Q. Were you right in line with the truck?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Did the truck turn around away from you or stop?
“A. No, sir.
ftQ. What happened?
UA. It went right over me.
“Q. Did you do anything after it run over you?
“A. No, sir.”

Upon cross-examination:

“Q. Do you recollect that September, this last September, the 21st of September in room No. 1, Judge Mandell tried this case ?
“A. Yes.
“Q. The trial was there then ?
“A. Yes.
“Q. And Charlie was there ?
“A. Yes.
[657]*657“Q. And you were there ?
"A. Yes.
“Q. And you were both in the room when the other spoke ?
“A. Yes.
Jimmie, do you recollect that at that time — don’t look at Mr. Hanley now — don’t you recollect at that time, Jimmie, that you told us that after you got ahead of the truck you started to go into the curb, and when you were on a slant that your bicycle slipped ?
''A. Maybe I did, I forget now.
“Q. Is that true?
.“A. I cannot say.
“Q. You ask whether or not, whether that statement is true, that you turned into the curb ?
“A. No, sir; it was not true; I was not turning in; I was going straight.
“Q. You now say that you were going straight ahead from the time you were alongside of the truck and that you did not turn either way ?
UA. Yes.
“Q. That is what it is now ?
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. And that is true ?
“A. Yes.
“ Q. But back in Judge Mandell’s room you told us that you had turned to go into the curb to join Charlie Schneider ?
“A. I don’t know.
tcQ. Now, of course, at that time, Jimmie, Mr. Hanley asked you questions first just as he did here ?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Is that true — I call your attention to his transcript, and I ask you whether Mr. Hanley did not ask you this:
Q. After you got ahead of the truck what happened to you and your bicycle ? A. I was about 100 feet ahead of the truck, over 100 feet and my wheel slid when I was slanting across to the curb.’
“A. Yes, I guess so; I don’t know if I did or not.
“Q. Don’t you know that is it ?
“A. I says that — let us see it. Yes, that is it there.
“Q. Now, afterwards, after Mr. Hanley was through, did I ask you some questions ?
“A. Yes.
“Q. I. ask you, Jimmie, whether at the time, when I [658]*658was asking you questions before Judge Mandell, if I did not ask you, I asked you about the truck keeping straight ahead ?
“A. Yes.
“Q. The truck kept straight ahead ?
“A. Yes.
“ Q. Did I ask you this question: ‘Q. If that is so, that the truck kept straight ahead and you kept straight ahead and you passed the truck, don’t you know that the truck would not hit you ? A. When I turned in a slanting-wise towards the curb, when I got ahead.’ Did you answer like that ?
“A. I think so.
eQ. After you got ahead you turned in slanting ? A. Yes, sir.’

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Bluebook (online)
140 N.W. 947, 174 Mich. 654, 1913 Mich. LEXIS 506, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/goosen-v-packard-motor-car-co-mich-1913.