Opinion
January 8, 1919.
Jarvis P. O'Brien [ Martin L. Murray of counsel], for the appellant.
John T. Norton, for the respondent.
On a January night at about six forty-five P.M., the plaintiff, driving a farm team and sleigh over a country highway, approached a railway crossing, with horses at a trot. He came within 5 feet of the tracks when he observed a train, pulled his team to the left, but failed to clear the tracks. A collision occurred with the result that the plaintiff was thrown and hurt. The night was dark but clear, without wind or storm, and white snow covered the ground. Plaintiff says that he looked and listened, but did not see the train until he was about upon the crossing. The tracks came up from the southwest, making the crossing at an acute angle, so that as the plaintiff approached the train was to his right and to his rear. There was a hill between the track and the highway, 400 feet back from the crossing, which at certain points upon the highway obscured a view of the track. From all points upon the highway, however, nearer to the track than 400 feet, no object interfered with vision of the track for 600 feet westerly of the crossing. The engine of the train carried a headlight which was burning, and the cars behind were lighted. Plaintiff did not testify that he looked both ways, or that he turned his head or his eyes either to the left or to the right. He insists that because of the snow upon the ground he did not know the exact location of the track. But he had crossed the track that very day, and concedes that as he approached he had definite knowledge that it was not distant more than 200 feet. With this knowledge he should have exercised care and looked both ways. Had he turned his head to the right he would have seen the lights upon the train long before he reached the crossing. His failure so to do was negligence, and bars recovery.
The judgment should be reversed and new trial granted.
All concurred, except COCHRANE, J., dissenting.
Judgment and order reversed upon the law and facts, and new trial granted, with costs to the appellant to abide the event. The court disapproves of the finding that the plaintiff was free from contributory negligence.