Crider v. Yolande Coal & Coke Co.
Crider v. Yolande Coal & Coke Co.
Opinion of the Court
Defendant, appellee, owned and operated two coal mines,, separated by some distance, and a large automobile truck which passed back and forth between the two. The road between the two mines passed through the village of Abernant, where it crossed a railroad, turning first sharply to the track, and then again, after crossing, sharply into the general direction of the tr.ack. Defendant’s truck was not equipped to carry passengers^ nor was it operated for that purpose. The driver, however, was in the habit of picking up any one who happened to be going imthe same direction, chiefly employes of defendant, and' others who worked in and about its mines, and the evidence afforded an inference, it may be conceded, 1;hat defendant’s superintendent was aware of this practice. On the occasion in question the truck, shortly before reaching the railroad, slowed up to allow some one to alight, when several young men got aboard, plaintiff, 20 years of age, among them. It may be stated —though not conceived to be of legal consequence — that these young men were allowed to get aboard the truck in pursuance of the general practice and without regard to the-presence, desire, or convenience of plaintiff in particular. No charge was made for the accommodation thus extended. Plaintiff stood upon the floor of the truck, leaning with his -back against the cab or hood over the driver’s seat, one arm resting on its top. After the truck had crossed the railroad, and was about to turn again, though moving, as plaintiff testified, at the rate of 20 or 25 miles an hour, an automobile in the rear signaled for room to pass, whereupon the driver of the truck steered 2 or 3 feet to the right, and just at the turn — to use plaintiff’s language —“hit a hole.” Plaintiff testified:
“It was just a rut washed out in the side of the road; could not say how deep it was— something like a foot — on the right side of the road.”
As a result plaintiff lost his balance and fell from his place on the truck, the rear wheel of which ran over his leg, inflicting grievous injury. Plaintiff was not defendant’s employs. Plaintiff was employed as a miner by an independent eontractor in one of defendant’s mines, and was not in any other wise related to defendant or its business.
Evidence was taken on several counts and at the end of it the trial court gave the general charge as requested by defendant. This charge was correctly given as far as it concerns counts 1 and 2, in which plaintiff declared as an employs. Plaintiff, as we have said, was not an employs .of defendant.
“knew of the peril and danger to plaintiff in rounding said curve at a high rate of speed, and after the discovery of such peril said agent or servant so in charge or control of the operation or running of said automobile truck or motor vehicle negligently ran said machine around such curve at a high and dangerous rate of speed.”
There were demurrers to these counts, but since they were ruled in favor of the plaintiff no question as to their sufficiency is now presented. Construed with favor to plaintiff in view of the undisputed facts of the case, these counts would be taken to mean that plaintiff was on defendant’s truck as a licensee, since he was there for his own pleasure or benefit, defendant having no interest or advantage in his presence. A. G. S. Ry. Co. v. Godfrey, 156 Ala. 219, 47 South. 185, 130 Am. St. Rep. 76. There being no charge of wanton or intentional injury in these counts, the principle of the cases first cited, supra, would exclude a recovery on count 7.
Affirmed.
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