Murphy v. Asheville-Knoxville Coach Co.

200 N.C. 92
CourtSupreme Court of North Carolina
DecidedJanuary 27, 1931
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 200 N.C. 92 (Murphy v. Asheville-Knoxville Coach Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Murphy v. Asheville-Knoxville Coach Co., 200 N.C. 92 (N.C. 1931).

Opinion

OlaeksoN, J.

Tbe evidence on tbe part of tbe plaintiff was to tbe effect that be was operating, for one L. H. Hudson, a Hup truck, weighing about 2tons, filled with stone, and was going from Walnut Cap Quarry and down tbe mountain, on highway No. 20, to Laurel River bridge to take tbe stone on highway No. 208 to tbe road work on tbe Little Laurel River, and was injured at about 2:30 in tbe afternoon of 19 April, 1929. He was going down tbe mountain to tbe intersection of highways Nos. 20 and 208 at Laurel River bridge. Highway No. 20 went from Asheville to Knoxville, Tenn., and highway No. 208 intersected it at Laurel River bridge and went west along tbe bank in a northerly direction to Greenville, Tenn. His course, when be arrived at tbe intersection of Nos. 20 and 208, Laurel River bridge was to turn to tbe right and go up tbe bank of Laurel River in a northerly direction on No. 208 to tbe road work. Just before reaching tbe intersection of Nos. 20 and 208, at tbe Laurel River bridge, highway No. 20 was 22 feet wide, and from tbe center of tbe bridge across tbe intersection was 36 feet and entering No. 208 was 24 feet wide. Tbe bus was going on No. 20 to Knoxville, and tbe course of tbe bus, when tbe driver arrived [98]*98at the intersection of Nos. 20 and 208, was to turn to the left and cross over the bridge at Laurel River and follow No. 20 on to Knoxville— the course.of the truck was to turn to the right and follow No. 208 to the road work where the road was being graveled. The bus was longer than the truck. The bus passed the truck some distance up the mountain, and the grade down the mountain was pretty heavy. Pos'ton knew the truck was coming behind him.

Plaintiff described the impact and what occurred at the time, in part, as follows“When the defendant approached this bridge, he was driving. He was wobbling all over the road. He was wobbling around the road. He slowed down and stopped right here, just at the intersection of the bridge. When he slowed down and stopped at that point, I reached down, blowed my horn and started to pass. He cut across the road to the left in front of me. Q. Did he show any signal or make any sound at all? A. No, I did not see any. No sir. He was where I could see him. I was looking at him. When I started to go past him he cut across the road in front of me with the bus, when he cut across the road in front of me, I did not have no room to go by nor get on the bridge either. The right corner of my bumper hit the bus. I cut out and got on the bridge. He caught my tail gate and shoved me off the bridge. I turned onto the bridge. ... I had my brakes on all I could get them on. The brakes were working; both wheels were sliding, I mean I had them locked. . . . The bus and truck came apart when he knocked me off the bridge, when the truck went over the bridge. I was still on that truck when I went over that bridge. I went in the water. ... I operated my truck with my right foot. I operated my clutch with my left foot. I set my foot on the clutch and blowed my horn at the same time. The bus passed me somewhere on one of those curves — I don’t know where. ... I was not going so fast I don’t think; something like 15 or 20 an hour, down the moun- ■ tain. . . . There was no place for me to go. He cut right in front of me. ... I guess he was about 30 feet from the bridge when he stopped. I thought he was going on toward Greenville. ... I started to pass. When I started to pass him he cut in front of me. I am certain he stopped. I don’t know whether he took on any passengers or not. Nobody was standing by the side of the road. I couldn’t see on the right-hand side whether he was taking on passengers or letting off passengers. We followed one another down the mountain, I don’t know how far. He was standing still when I started to pass. When I started by the truck I was traveling at the rate of 8 or 10. We both went on the bridge side by side. . . . When he first pulled in front of me on the bridge, I kind of glanced to get on the bridge to keep from knocking off in the river. I was not off my road when this happened. [99]*99. . . Tbe reason I left tbe Greenville road was tbat be cut me off tbe Greenville road. I didn’t bave anywhere to go except tbat bridge to keep — unless I went in tbe river.”

W. C. Ledbetter, a witness for plaintiff, testified, in part: “From tbe skid marks of tbe truck you could see tbe outside or upper marks tbat tbe truck bad made in going across tbe bridge. Tbey were about three feet or something like tbat from tbe left-hand rail. You could see tbe skid marks of tbe wheel tbat was nearest to tbat timber, tbat is tbe one I was talking about. It was about three and a half or four feet after it went on tbe bridge. Tbe skid marks continued along tbat side 10 or 12 feet. I noticed then where tbe truck bad got on top of this guard rail, tbe front axle bad, and bad turned off those bannisters for eight or ten feet before it bad gone over. It bad gone I guess 55 feet before it turned over. Tbe bridge is 80 feet long.”

C. B. Bennett, for plaintiff, testified, in part: “When I got down a little piece and looked over and saw tbe bus standing there and saw tbe truck, just saw tbe wheels. It was turned up. I went down, turned my truck across tbe bridge, parked and Mr. Poston, tbe bus driver, came walking from tbe bus. I said ‘Where is tbe driver at?’ He said ‘He is in tbe river.’ I said, ‘Let’s get him out.’ He said ‘Hell, it is not any use, be is done drowned.’ He said there was not any use, with an oath to it, tbat be was done drowned. I said, ‘I am going to try to get him out.’ . . . About tbat time Mr. Ingle drove up. Ledbetter was not far behind him. Tbey came down there and Mr. Murphy’s brother and Mr. Ledbetter came to tbe water and got him. All tbe time I was bolding bis bead. Poston did not come down there. . .• . I talked to Mr. Poston, be was drinking, I smelled it.”

There was other evidence corroborating plaintiff. This evidence was to tbe way tbe collision occurred, and as to tbe drinking, was denied by defendant Poston, and bis evidence was corroborated by witnesses, and tbe further fact tbat be bad not been drinking.

Defendants’ evidence was to tbe effect tbat tbe bus was on tbe right-band side of tbe center of No. 20 and it bad slowed down to 10 miles an hour, and never stopped, and when it turned at tbe intersection of highways 20 and 208 to continue on No. 20 and cross tbe bridge over Laurel River, tbe driver, Poston, gave proper warning and used due care, and plaintiff ran tbe truck into tbe left side of tbe bus in front of tbe rear wheel.

Tbe evidence of plaintiff sustained bis allegations, as alleged in tbe complaint, and tbe evidence of defendants sustained their allegations as alleged in tbe answer. Tbe defendants, at tbe close of plaintiff’s • evidence and at tbe close of all tbe evidence, made motions in tbe court below for judgment as in case of nonsuit, C. S., 567, which tbe court [100]*100overruled. In this we can see no error. Tbe controversy was one of fact, which it was the province of the jury to determine. The questions of negligence, contributory negligence and proximate cause were sufficient to be submitted to the jury.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
200 N.C. 92, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/murphy-v-asheville-knoxville-coach-co-nc-1931.