Tyler v. Smith

26 Ill. Ct. Cl. 231, 1968 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 16
CourtCourt of Claims of Illinois
DecidedNovember 12, 1968
DocketNos. 5085-5089, Consolidated
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 26 Ill. Ct. Cl. 231 (Tyler v. Smith) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Claims of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Tyler v. Smith, 26 Ill. Ct. Cl. 231, 1968 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 16 (Ill. Super. Ct. 1968).

Opinion

Perlin, C.J.

Five claimants seek recovery of money damages arising out of an automobile accident on December 3, 1961. They allege that respondent was negligent in the maintenance of a public highway, and failed properly to warn the traveling public of a rock wall at the end of a “T” intersection of Routes Nos. 37 and 57 in Williamson County, Illinois, a few miles south of Marion, Illinois.

Claimants, William Tyler, John T. White, Irene Jacobs, and Cheryl Johnson, sustained personal injuries, and L. C. Tyler, the wife of William Tyler, was killed while riding in an automobile driven by John T. White. They had been traveling in a southerly direction along Route No. 37 at approximately 6:00 A.M. in foggy weather, when the car crashed into a rock wall.

The complaints in the consolidated cases charge that during the year of 1960 a new highway, designated Interstate Route No. 57, was constructed, which ran generally parallel and to the west of State Route No. 37 in Williamson County. At a point about eight miles south of Marion, Illinois, an access highway to Interstate Route No. 57 was constructed, which ran in a southeasterly direction connecting State Route No. 37 and Interstate Route No. 57. After the construction of the access road the course of Route No. 37 was changed so that it intersected the access route at a right angle, or in a “T” intersection.

The new portion of State Route No. 37 and the access road at the “T” intersection were cut through a hill. The complaints charge this left high banks on either side, and a bank of solid rock at the end of the “T” intersection directly facing the southbound traffic on State Route No. 37. As a result of the new construction, according to claimants, State Route No. 37 was changed to make a sharp turn to the right a short distance before it came to the dead end bank of solid rock.

Claimants contend that, on December 3, 1961 at approximately 6:30 A.M. and before daylight, John T. White was driving his 1959 Ford vehicle in a southerly direction along State Route No. 37 at a reasonable rate of speed unknowingly approaching the “ T ” intersection, and that by reason of the sharp turn, lack of proper warning devices, fog, and nearness of the dead end intersection, he was unable to stop prior to crashing into the rock wall at the “T” intersection.

Claimants further contend that prior to this collision respondent had had actual notice of the hazardous condition created by the construction and maintenance of the highway without adequate warning devices by reason of occurrence of at least 35 accidents from the date the highway opened for public use in November, 1960 until the date of the accident involved in the instant case. The previous accidents at this location resulted in injury to numerous persons and property, and the death of three other persons, according to claimants.

Specific acts of negligence alleged are that respondent failed to give sufficient warning of the sharp right turn, and the fact that the road came to a dead end only 300 feet beyond said curve; that it permitted, said curve and dead end road to exist and remain in such condition when it knew of the many accidents causing injury and death to the users prior to December 3, 1961; that it failed to establish and maintain adequate and proper warning signs or devices at a sufficient distance north of the sharp curve and dead end intersection to provide advance warning to southbound traffic of its approach; that it negligently and carelessly constructed said highway and the Route No. 57 approach when it knew, or should have known in the exercise of ordinary care, that the highway, as constructed, created an undue hazard for the traffic, which had to use it.

The damages sought are as follows: Case No. 5085, William Tyler, for personal injuries, loss of earnings and medical expenses, $20,000.00; Case No. 5086, John T. .White, for personal injuries, medical expenses and loss of earnings, $10,000.00; Case No. 5087, Irene Jacobs, personal injuries and medical expenses, $20,000.00; Case No. 5088, Cheryl Johnson, a Minor, by Irene Jacobs her Mother and Next Friend, personal injuries and medical expenses, $20,000.00; and, Case No. 5089, Andrew J. Smith, Administrator of the Estate of L. C. Tyler, deceased, and for wrongful death on behalf of her husband and minor daughter, $25,000.00.

In order to recover, each claimant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence (1) his or her freedom from constributory negligence; (2) the negligence of respondent; and, (3) that respondent’s negligence was the proximate cause of the injuries claimed herein.

The evidence established that the “T” intersection was backed by a rock wall, approximately 10 to 15. feet high, which faced traffic traveling southbound on Route No. 37. The wall was located approximately 21 feet from the edge of the pavement. At the approach to the intersection was a “Stop Ahead” sign with “1,000 feet” beneath it, a flashing yellow light mounted on top of another “Stop Ahead” sign on the left side of the road, a “37” sign backed by a directional arrow, and “Stop” signs on each side of the road at the intersection itself, all controlling southbound traffic. Immediately in front of the rock wall was a guard rail, and a rectangular sign with directional arrow and the number “37” on a backing of black and white stripes. An overhead red signal, which was supposed to flash at the interesction for southbound traffic, was also installed.

The driver of the car, John T. White, testified that he was enroute from Benton Harbor, Michigan to Arkansas. He had been over Route No. 37 about a year before the accident, but the intersection had not been in existence at that time. The weather was foggy and wet He was driving at a speed of 40 or 45 miles per hour. His headlights were on dim, White stated, because that way the light was on the ground. When they were on bright, according to White, he could not see because of the fog. As he approached the scene of the accident, he saw no signs, but did see a blinking yellow light as he started around the curve. He stated that he expected to find a crossroad. When he saw the blinking light he slowed down, but he saw nothing as he rounded the curve, and went back to his normal speed. Suddenly he saw the embankment across the road, but could not stop. He applied his brakes, and skidded into the wall. He was able to get help at a nearby house, and returned to the scene of the accident. White testified that at no time did he see a red light flashing overhead.

William Tyler testified that he was riding in the rear seat of the car with his wife, L.C., and daughter, 18 months old. Because of the waist-high fog he saw no signs until they reached the sign, which said “37”, after the brakes were applied. The fog was not thick close to the pavement, and they could see the road.

The other two passengers, Irene Jacobs and her daughter, were riding in the front seat.

Larry Marvin Kimmel, a farmer who lived near the intersection, testified that one of the occupants of the ear called at his house for help immediately after the accident. He went to the car, and described the scene as right after daylight and foggy. He did not remember whether the red light was flashing. He estimated that about 39 to 40 cars had driven into the wall since the opening of the intersection in November, 1960.

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Bluebook (online)
26 Ill. Ct. Cl. 231, 1968 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 16, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tyler-v-smith-ilclaimsct-1968.