Gulf Oil Corp. v. Daniels

1969 OK 9, 449 P.2d 884
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedJanuary 14, 1969
DocketNo. 41989
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 1969 OK 9 (Gulf Oil Corp. v. Daniels) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gulf Oil Corp. v. Daniels, 1969 OK 9, 449 P.2d 884 (Okla. 1969).

Opinion

BERRY, Vice Chief Justice.

This is an appeal from a judgment entered upon a jury verdict in plaintiff’s favor in an action for damages for personal injuries. The arguments advanced by plaintiffs in error, hereafter the defendants, are better understood by elaboration concerning physical surroundings at the accident scene.

The north-south highway between Sa-pulpa and Tulsa, Oklahoma, generally is designated Federal Highway 66, but also serves as another Federal and State Highway. This road is a 24 foot strip of concrete, joined on each side by a contiguous [885]*885asphalt strip 10 feet wide, the paved highway being adjoined by dirt and grass along the right of way. Total width of the paved highway is 44 feet. Just north of Sapulpa Highway 66 is intersected by Hilton Road, an unpaved, county road running northeast to southwest, the intersection being at less than a 45 degree angle at the crest of a small hill. Entrance onto the highway from this road is guarded by a stop sign set approximately 12 feet from east edge of the asphalt pavement. Highway 66 is divided by a center strip, and south of the intersection has yellow “no passing” zone lines by reason of lack of visibility of southbound traffic north of the intersection. There are signs prohibiting passing on the right, but no prohibition against driving upon the asphalt portion of the roadway, both lanes being utilized for travel.

On November 27, 1964, plaintiff, accompanied by two adult passengers riding in the front seat, was proceeding north on the highway within the legal speed limit. When plaintiff was approximately 150-200 feet south of the intersection defendant Henderson, in the course of the corporate defendant’s business, approached the intersection in a company pickup truck equipped with a heavy, projecting bumper. After stopping in compliance with the sign the pickup was driven onto the asphalt portion of the highway intersection. Defendant testified traffic was “awfully heavy” and when the lane cleared for northbound traffic he rolled almost to the asphalt and stopped waiting when he could see traffic from the north, because when stopped at the sign the cab blocked off part of the view. Defendant pulled up “into the blacktop” before he could see both ways. The northbound lane cleared and defendant observed- heavy traffic coming south. Upon looking south again defendant observed plaintiff’s car “coming right at me”, and fell over into the seat before the collision. There was other evidence that vision to north or south was not improved by driving onto the asphalt when coming into this intersection.

Plaintiff’s evidence showed when approximately 150-200 feet south of the intersection defendant was observed to stop and then pull gradually onto the highway. Upon one of the passengers calling out a warning plaintiff applied her brakes, it being impossible to veer left because of oncoming, southbound traffic. Plaintiff’s car laid down 67 feet of skid marks along the highway before striking the truck just rear of the left front wheel. The investigating officer determined, from debris and physical surroundings, the point of impact was upon the asphalt 6 feet 5 inches east of the concrete portion of the highway, although there was testimony concerning presence of debris on the concrete. And, there was testimony the truck was moving forward with the front bumper extending to the concrete when the collision occurred. Following the accident the truck was positioned back of the intersection. Defendant testified the truck was stopped and in neutral when the collision occurred. The patrolman testified as to presence of wheel marks north and east of the impact point, resulting from the truck being driven backward approximately, 24 feet in that direction.

Plaintiff charged defendants with negligence in failing to stop and yield, in negligently entering onto the highway in violation of 47 O.S.1961, §§ 11-403(b) and 11-703(d); failure to yield right of way to vehicles traveling the' Federal Highway in violation of 47 O.S.1961, § lH01(a); driving past the stop sign onto the highway and into plaintiff’s line of travel; failure to yield right of way and driving onto the highway in violation of 47 O.S.1961, § 11-901 (a); failure to keep the vehicle under control and to keep a proper lookout for approaching traffic. Plaintiff further plead sudden emergency in being forced to exercise effort to avoid collision by sudden application of her brakes. The petition plead various resulting injuries and asked $189,000.00 damages from such injuries.

[886]*886Defendants answered separately, each asserting plaintiff’s primary negligence in failure to keep proper lookout, positive negligence in driving her vehicle onto the east side of the highway and into defendant’s truck, and contributory negligence on plaintiff’s part. The corporate defendant alleged plaintiff’s failure to keep her vehicle under control in order to stop within assured clear distance ahead, while its employee was free of any negligence. By cross-petition defendant sought damages ($519.00) resulting from the accident.

The matters urged for reversal, although argued as questions of law, arise from defendants’ interpretation as to the construction which should be placed upon the evidence, particularly in view of 47 O.S.1961, §§ 1-158, 1 — 158(a) (b), ll-703(d). In this connection defendants’ two opening propositions advance what is both a new as well as novel contention. This is the type appeal which neither requires nor justifies lengthy recitation of the evidence, other than recitation detailing the physical surroundings.

Defendants first contend the undisputed physical facts, shown by photographs introduced in evidence, establish the point of impact was east of the “roadway” of Highway 66. Thus defendants conclude the trial court erred in overruling motion for directed verdict since there was failure to prove defendant Henderson guilty of any negligence. From this premise defendants next urge there was no cross walk or stop sign as mentioned in § 11-703 (d), supra, hence defendant violated no duty by failure to stop before reaching the asphalt “shoulder”, because only required to stop at the point nearest the intersecting “roadway.” Defendants conclude the court erred in admitting evidence tending to show this a four lane highway, which misled the jury into the belief the asphalt shoulder was part of the highway. And, it was further error to refuse their requested instruction to the effect defendant owed no duty to stop at the stop sign, or at any point before reaching the intersecting roadway.

Even recognition of the novelty of this argument does not merit extended discussion, other than noting that categorization of the asphalt portion of the traveled highway as “shoulder” rather than part of the roadway only can be treated as an exercise in semantics. The photographic evidence defendants assert to disclose “undisputed physical facts” likewise depicts the highway where the accident occurred as providing four lanes for automobile travel. We are in accord with plaintiff’s position, which relies upon what we consider controlling sections of our statutes.

The undisputed testimony showed the collision occurred within the intersection of Highway 66 and Hilton Road. 47 O.S. 1961, § 1-122, defines a highway as being the entire width between boundary lines of any road publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to public use for vehicular traffic. Thereafter § 1-126 defines intersection:

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1969 OK 9, 449 P.2d 884, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gulf-oil-corp-v-daniels-okla-1969.