Acker v. The Union Pacific Railroad Company

• Decision Date: 06 March 1920
• Docket Number: 22,247
• Citation: 106 Kan. 401,188 P. 419
• Parties: PHILLIP ACKER, Appellant, v. THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY, Appellee
• Court: Kansas Supreme Court

188 P. 419

106 Kan. 401

PHILLIP ACKER, Appellant, v. THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY, Appellee

No. 22,247

Supreme Court of Kansas

March 6, 1920

Decided January, 1920.

Appeal from Geary district court; ROSWELL L. KING, judge.

Judgment affirmed.

SYLLABUS

SYLLABUS BY THE COURT.

AUTO TRUCK--Crossing Railroad Track--Duty of Driver--Contributory Negligence. In a railway crossing case, it is held (following Wehe v. Railway Co., 97 Kan. 794, 156 P. 742, and kindred cases) that where the plaintiff and his employee who was driving his automobile discovered, just before they were about to cross the railroad track, that their view of the track was obstructed by clouds of smoke from engines standing on another track, it was contributory negligence for them to proceed to cross without stopping and waiting or going to some point where a view of the track could be obtained, if there was no other way of determining whether a train was approaching.

James V. Humphrey, and Arthur S. Humphrey, both of Junction City for the appellant.

R. W. Blair, T. M. Lillard, and O. B. Eidson, all of Topeka, for the appellee.

OPINION

PORTER, J.:

The action was for damages resulting from a collision between Acker's truck and a Union Pacific train. A demurrer to the plaintiff's evidence was sustained, from which he appeals.

The accident occurred at a country highway crossing and in broad daylight. Acker was employed to transfer certain household goods from Junction City to Manhattan on January 30, 1918. He was riding on the truck, which was being driven by Ellis, who was in his employ. Acker testified that when they came in sight of the crossing, about a mile therefrom, they saw two trains standing on the first track headed as though eastbound. The engine of the first train was about half a block from the crossing and had three or four cars and a caboose attached to it. They saw the semaphore to the left standing up and decided correctly that this was because of the standing trains. At the culvert, 75 or 100 feet from the crossing, the driver disengaged the auto engine and nearly stopped--not to a "dead" stop, but just so the shift could be made to "low" going down a little incline from the culvert. Thence they proceeded on low, until struck, able and on the alert to stop on the instant. They looked for flagmen and trainmen, but none was in sight. They listened for signal of whistle or bell, but none was given. They saw, while approaching, dense smoke issuing from the engines and settling over the fields on the other side of the tracks. When on the track, in front of the first train, they perceived for the first time that this smoke settled down over the second track so as to screen it from their view. Acker thought of stopping and going up between the tracks past the smoke, but concluded it wouldn't do, because he would have to pass the first train to the second engine. They concluded, also, it would be safe to cross. On cross-examination Acker testified:

"Q. You didn't think there would be any smoke in your way from this engine until you had crossed over the first track and was onto the eastbound track? A. Until we were on the first track.

"Q. When you were getting up on the first track, then you made up your mind that there was enough smoke there so you knew you couldn't see the other side of that smoke? A. Yes, sir.

"Q. Nevertheless, having your view cut off in that way, you decided to take your chances and drive on regardless of what was beyond that smoke? A. No, sir.

"Q. You did that? A. I was listening and looking.

"Q. But you knew you couldn't see anything beyond that smoke? A. Yes, sir.

"Q. And so far as knowing anything further than what you might hear, knowing that the smoke cut off your view, you decided, nevertheless, to go on the track there and take the chances, did you? A. I decided it was safe, yes, sir.

. . . .

"Q. By the time you actually got over that track (first track) then, if it hadn't been for the smoke you had an absolutely clear view down the (second) track for just as far as the eye would reach? A. I would have if it hadn't been for the smoke, yes, sir.

. . . .

"Q. You could have stopped right then and there, after you got to the first track and saw the smoke was obstructing your view you could have stopped there before getting onto the second track? A. I could have stopped any place.

"Q. Instantly? A. Yes, sir.

"Q. So, when you found smoke there that you hadn't anticipated--You had thought as you drove up there: 'Well, as soon as I get so I can see beyond that train I will know whether there is a...