Alford v. New York Central Railroad Company
| Decision Date | 30 December 1964 |
| Docket Number | No. 14680.,14680. |
| Citation | 339 F.2d 1019 |
| Parties | Beatrice ALFORD, Administratrix of the Estate of Leslie B. Alford, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY, Defendant-Appellee. |
| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit |
William E. Mills, Arthur A. May, So. Bend, Ind., for appellant.
Richard O. Olson, Chicago, Ill., Louis C. Chapleau, Arthur J. Perry, So. Bend, Ind., for appellee.
Before HASTINGS, Chief Judge, and KNOCH and KILEY, Circuit Judges.
Plaintiff Beatrice Alford, administratrix of the estate of Leslie B. Alford, deceased, brought this diversity action against defendant New York Central Railroad Company. She sought to recover damages for the wrongful death of her husband, Leslie B. Alford, who was killed while riding in a motor vehicle, resulting from a collision with defendant's train.
The complaint charged defendant with negligence in the operation of its train. Defendant answered in denial and further charging plaintiff's decedent with contributory negligence.
The case was tried to a jury which returned a verdict for defendant on which judgment was entered. Plaintiff appealed. The errors relied upon for reversal arise out of instructions and rulings on evidence. We affirm the judgment of the district court.
The accident in question occurred on June 22, 1960 at the intersection of Pine Road and defendant's railroad tracks in St. Joseph County, Indiana, at about 7:30 a. m.
Leslie Alford was at his father's home on Pine Road about one mile south of the intersection. At this place Leslie, his father Lascom Alford and 12-year old nephew Lee Alford entered a Packard automobile. The automobile was driven in a northerly direction on Pine Road. As it approached the intersection, defendant's train was proceeding west on its westbound track.
The automobile was driven onto the railroad track where it collided with the left side of the locomotive. Immediately prior to and at the time of the collision, the locomotive headlight was burning bright, the whistle was sounding and the bell was ringing. There was a sudden heavy squall of rain. The train was being operated at a speed of 55 to 60 miles per hour. On approaching the intersection, the occupants of the automobile had a view to the east of more than 2800 feet, except for the rain squall. The engineer on defendant's locomotive did not see the approaching automobile prior to the collision because of the heavy rain.
As a result of the collision, Leslie and his father were killed and his nephew was injured. Leslie was 27 years of age and was survived by his widow and four children.
During the course of the trial, plaintiff introduced in evidence photographs taken at the scene of the accident on the date of the collision. Defendant introduced in evidence two photographs taken at the scene the next day. All were admitted without objection.
At the trial, defendant introduced four additional photographs taken at the scene of the accident in December, 1963. They were admitted over plaintiff's objection. Plaintiff charges error because of the change in the physical appearance of the surroundings due to the disparity in time. However, the jury was advised concerning the changed conditions and could not have been misled thereby, particularly in light of the other photographs timely taken.
Such objections more properly go to the weight to be accorded such evidence rather than to its admissibility.
In an Indiana case, we stated the applicable rule to be that "the admission or rejection of photographs in evidence is a question that lies within the discretion of the trial court, and its discretion will not be disturbed unless an abuse of such discretion is shown, Haven v. Snyder, 93 Ind.App. 54, 176 N.E. 149." Drohan v. Standard Oil Co., 7 Cir., 168 F.2d 761, 765 (1948), cert. denied, 335 U.S. 845, 69 S.Ct. 69, 93 L.Ed. 396. Accord, Vaughn v. National Tea Company, 7 Cir., 328 F.2d 128 (1964). Under the circumstances surrounding the admission of the challenged photographs, we find no abuse of discretion and it was not prejudicial error to receive them in evidence.
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