Hilliard v. Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co.
Hilliard v. Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The plaintiff in crossing Second and Chestnut streets diagonally was struck by an east-bound Chestnut street car and injured. There was a fire in the vicinity and the Chestnut street car had been standing for three minutes at the west house line of Second street. Plaintiff thought it would not start because of the fire. In obedience to a signal from the traffic officer the car proceeded at slow speed to cross the street. The plaintiff did not look at the Chestnut street car after he left the curb and was struck upon reaching the car tracks. We do not think the- circumstances surrounding the occurrence were such as to relieve the plaintiff from the observance of the duties enjoined by the numerous decisions of the appellate courts of this State. There is nothing in the plaintiff’s evidence to indicate that there was a suspension of the traffic occasioned by the fire and from the plaintiff’s testimony the car that struck him had a clear track. The plaintiff had an unobstructed view of the car where it was standing. It started after a notice from the traffic officer at a slow rate of speed and was stopped within from one to five feet after he was struck. There is no evidence to dispute the fact that the gong was sounded. He paid no attention to the Chestnut street car after leaving the curb. His attention was centered on the Secqnd street car that he was about to board. The motorman had a right to suppose that the plaintiff Avould stop as the'plaintiff knew that
The defendant’s motion for judgment non obstante veredicto should have been sustained.. It is here done. The judgment is reversed and directed to be entered for the defendant.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.