Wascom v. Varnado

209 So. 2d 72, 1968 La. App. LEXIS 4960
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedApril 8, 1968
DocketNo. 7322
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 209 So. 2d 72 (Wascom v. Varnado) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wascom v. Varnado, 209 So. 2d 72, 1968 La. App. LEXIS 4960 (La. Ct. App. 1968).

Opinion

LOTTINGER, Judge.

This is a suit for physical and property damages resulting from an intersectional collision. The petitioners are Harry W. Wascom and his wife, Mrs. Mildred W. Wascom. Defendants are August Emmett Varnado, Sr., and his liability insurer. The Lower Court awarded judgment in favor of the petitioners and against defendants, and the defendants have filed this appeal. The petitioners have answered the appeal seeking an increase in quantum.

The accident in question occurred during the middle of the afternoon of August 24, 1964, in the City of Bogalusa, State of Louisiana. Immediately prior to the accident the petitioner, Harry W. Wascom, was driving his automobile in a westerly direction along Davenport Street, approaching the intersection of East Highland Circle Drive. His wife was a guest passenger riding in the right front seat.

At the same time August Emmett Var-nado, Jr., was driving his father’s pick-up truck along Highland Circle Drive traveling in a northerly direction approaching the intersection of Davenport Street. Mr. Wascom was approaching the intersection from the right of the Varnado vehicle, and young Varnado was approaching the intersection from the left of the Wascom vehicle. At the time young Varnado.was a minor, and was driving the pick-up truck with the knowledge and permission of his father, August E. Varnado. He was on a mission for his father and engaged in the business of picking up garbage.

Mr. Wascom testified that immediately prior to the accident he was traveling at a speed of approximately 20 to 25 miles per hour. Before he reached the position of about 20 to 25 feet east of the intersection he was unable to see the truck driven by young Varnado because of house obstructions. However, upon getting to a point approximately 20 or 25 feet from the intersection, he looked to the left and noticed a pick-up truck some 100 or 125 feet south of him just pulling off as it appeared that a couple of small boys had just jumped on, one on the back and one on the side of the truck. Mr. Wascom continued through the intersection and just as he got a little over halfway of it the truck pulled [74]*74into the intersection and to its left in an attempt to make a left turn and caught him approximately mid-way of his front fender. Mr. Wascom testified that the truck did not stop before entering the intersection nor did it blow its horn or slow down. The weather was dry, and after the collision his car stopped some six or seven feet over the intersection. Mr. Wascom testified that the truck was going faster than he was, otherwise he would have had ample time to clear the intersection before the truck entered it.

Mrs. Wascom testified substantially the same as her husband. She stated that she did not notice that the truck was not going to stop until the moment of the impact. She stated that instead of stopping it looked like young Varnado “put his foot on the gas and came right on into us.” She said that right before the impact she noticed that he was talking to a boy on the side of the truck. Officer Billy Gill, of the Police Department of Bogalusa, testified that when he arrived at the scene of the accident he found the truck in the middle of Davenport Street and the car was right against the northwest curb headed west, with the truck still against the car.

Although there were certain exceptions and a third party pleading filed in the Lower Court, all of which have been dismissed by the Lower Court, we are not now concerned with these matters. The only questions raised before us are as to the contributory negligence vel non of Mr. Wascom, and the question of quantum of damages. The defendants have admitted negligence on the part of young Varnado.

The Lower Court gave a judgment in favor of petitioners, Harry W. Wascom and his wife, for property damages in the sum of $1805.35. Judgment was rendered in favor of Mrs. Wascom for physical injuries in the sum of $1500.00. The defendants have appealed, seeking a reversal. The petitioners, on the other hand, have answered the appeal seeking an increase in quantum.

There has been introduced into the evidence in this case a City Ordinance of the City of Bogalusa which provides as follows:

“It shall be unlawful to' drive or operate any vehicle within the limits of the various housing projects of the City * * * at a greater rate of speed than 12 miles per hour * * *”

It is urged by the defendants that Mr. Wascom admitted violating the statutes when he testified that he was proceeding at a speed of 20 to 25 miles per hour and that by so violating the statute he is guilty per se of contributory negligence resulting in the accident in question.

At the request of this Court both parties have stipulated that both Davenport Avenue and Highland Park Circle are paved roadways each having a width of 32 feet. Davenport Street is a through street which goes through the Highland Park housing project. Highland Park Circle, on the other hand is not a main thoroughfare running through the project, but is one of the inside, or project, streets.

Tire Lower Court held that the ordinance with regard to the speed limit within housing projects was probably intended to cover Highland Park Circle in the present case and other inside streets, but not the main thoroughfares that run through these projects. In so holding, the Lower Court said: “This is not an ordinance designed to> protect life and property on streets and highways but intended to protect life and property within the limits of the various projects with the limits of the City, such as Highland Circle Drive.”

The Bogalusa City Code, Section 21-39, provides as follows:

“Every driver of a vehicle approaching the intersection of a street shall grant the right-of-way at such intersections to any vehicle approaching from his right, provided that whenever police officers are stationed, they have full power to regulate traffic, and provided further that where traffic control light signals are in [75]*75operation, such signals indicate the right-of-way as provided by Section 21-61 hereof, and provided further that where authorized signs are placed in accordance with Section 21-4, indicating the right-of-way, such signs control the right-of-way.”

A similar rule is set forth in Title 32, Section 121 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes which provides as follows:

“A. The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle which has entered the intersection from a different highway.
B. When two vehicles enter an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left, shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.
C. The right-of-way rules declared in Subsections A and B are modified at through highways and otherwise as hereinafter stated in this Part.”

There is no question but that in the case before us Mr. Wascom had the right-of-way. This is clear because he not only preempted the intersection but he was the vehicle traveling from the right, as provided above. There was, therefore, clearly negligence on young Varnado in entering the intersection with disregard to the right-of-way provided Mr. Wascom without stopping, as well as in his failure to see the Wascom vehicle approaching. The only question remaining as to the cause of the accident was the contributory negligence, vel non on the part of Mr.

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Bluebook (online)
209 So. 2d 72, 1968 La. App. LEXIS 4960, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wascom-v-varnado-lactapp-1968.