McLaughlin v. Tacoma Railway & Power Co. , 127 Wash. 211 ( 1923 )

Pemberton, J.

This is an action against appellant to recover damages resulting from injuries received by reason of a collision between a street car of appellant and an automobile driven by C. W. McLaughlin, one of the respondents. It is alleged in the complaint that, while respondent was driving south on St. Helens avenue, near the Y. M. C. A. building, in Tacoma, he drove near the appellant’s tracks past an automobile parked near the curb, and that his car was struck by a street car running in the same direction as the automobile. It is claimed that the accident was caused by reason of the failure of appellant to use reasonable care in the operation of its street car. The appellant denied the allegations of negligence; and, as an affirmative defense, alleges:

‘ ‘ That the accident was due to the careless and negligent conduct of said respondent in that he drove his automobile directly in front of the street car and into collision therewith and that he failed to look or listen or use his mental faculties to avoid doing so.”

Judgment was entered upon a verdict of jury against appellant, from which judgment this appeal is taken.

Concerning the accident, respondent testified as follows :

“As we came down Sixth avenue to St. Helens, there was a street car passing in front of us coming on down St. Helens avenue at Sixth; we followed the street car until the car stopped at Seventh street to let off or take on passengers. At that point I drove up alongside of the car when the passengers were off or on, before the motorman had started his car I started ahead, and as I drove even with the door he was closing his door. I drove ahead and within the first 30 feet or so, we passed the street car and drove on down St. Helens avenue. When about two-thirds of the distance across Market street, I should judge, I looked back at the left to see if the street car was coming, because there were parked cars at the corner of the triangle, two cars close to the corner, and I thought that if any car was coming very closely I would turn out and go down Market street rather than straight on down St. Helens avenue. Seeing the car was something like 30 feet, at least I should judge it to be fully 30 feet behind me, I assumed that I was going at least as fast as the car was or I wouldn’t be aheád of it that far, I continued to drive on down St. Helens avenue, and just as I was clearing the first two parked cars I felt an impact from the rear and at the same time the gong sounded on the street car and this impact caused the rear end of my car to swing toward the curb, which threw us right in front of the street car and my machine was carried approximately 60 to 65 feet down the street in front of the street car, at first at a considerable increased speed over wbat I bad been driving. ’ ’

A young man riding with respondent at tbe time of tbe accident corroborated respondent as to bow tbe accident occurred, and testified that tbe automobile, at tbe time of tbe accident, was traveling approximately fifteen miles per bour. A large number of passengers on tbe street car testified that respondent drove bis automobile immediately in front of tbe street car, and that at no time was tbe automobile thirty feet ahead of tbe same. '

It is tbe contention of appellant that tbe accident occurred as testified to by tbe witnesses of appellant, and tbe judgment should be reversed.

Tbe record shows that these facts have been submitted to three different juries, and these juries have all decided tbe facts in controversy in favor of respondent. It cannot be said, as a matter of law, that, if tbe accident occurred as testified to by respondent, be was guilty of contributory negligence. It is often necessary for one driving an automobile to temporarily drive in front of a street car going in the same direction. If respondent, when be entered upon tbe track of appellant, was thirty feet in advance of tbe street car and was going fifteen miles per bour, and tbe street car struck tbe automobile from tbe rear, tbe question of tbe negligence of appellant and tbe contributory negligence of respondent were for tbe jury. Traver v. Spokane Street R. Co., 25 Wash. 225, 65 Pac. 284; Henry v. Seattle Elec. Co., 55 Wash. 444, 104 Pac. 776; Keefe v. Seattle Elec. Co., 55 Wash. 448, 104 Pac. 774.

Tbe judgment must be affirmed.

Main, C. J., Mitchell, Fullerton, and Bridges, JJ., concur.