Virgilio v. Walker
Virgilio v. Walker
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
On April 23,1914, Antonio Virgilio, an employee in the street department of the City of Erie, was knocked down by defendants’ automobile, and, as a result, lost his life; his widow sued alleging negligence; the court below entered a nonsuit, which it subsequently refused to remove ; hence this appeal.
The accident happened on West Tenth street, between Plumb and Cascade streets in the City of Erie. Tenth street is a public highway extending through that city in an easterly and westerly direction, .100 feet in width, with
On the day of the accident the plaintiff’s husband had cleaned a “spill,” or inlet, at the southeast corner of Tenth and Plum streets, and (again in the words of the appellant) he was “on his way to clean the spill on the north side of Tenth street midway beween Plum and Cascade and about 330 feet west of Plum.” Instead of keeping to the proper sidewalk or using the boulevard space, or even making a direct right angle cut across, Mr. Virgilio appears to have walked along Tenth street near the center of the northern roadway; when somewhere between 20 and 82 feet west of Plum street, the accident happened. The testimony indicates that both the automobile and Mr. Virgilio were proceeding with the westward line of traffic, the latter being “more on the north side of the street than the car”; in fact, when struck, he was within two or three feet of the north curb of the street.
An eye witness describes the actual collision thus: “He had a big, long spoon (shovel) on his shoulder and was walking down west without paying attention to the car......; when he heard the car he turned around and his spoon was in the way, and he dodged back and fell
There is but one assignment of error, and that complains of the refusal to take off the nonsuit. In a case of this character, a nonsuit can be entered only when it is inconceivable, on any reasonable hypothesis, that a
When we consider the evidence in the light of these relevant principles of law, it is clear beyond doubt that the defendants could not properly be convicted of negligence, even if Mr. Virgilio’s own carelessness did not directly contribute to his death; for, so far as the testimony indicates, this is a case where, in view of the surrounding conditions, the automobile was going at a reasonable speed, under proper control, and where the man in charge apparently gave such warnings as the cir
The assignment of error is overruled, and the judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Virgilio v. L. B. Walker and F. C. Brehm, Copartners Doing Business as L. B. Walker Company
- Cited By
- 74 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Negligence — Automobiles—Pedestrian—Street cleaner — Collision between crossings — Nonsuit. 1. In a negligence case a nonsuit can be entered only when it is inconceivable on any reasonable hypothesis that a mind desiring solely to reach a just and proper conclusion in accordance with the relevant governing principles of law, after viewing the evidence in the light most advantageous to the plaintiff, could determine in his favor the controlling issues involved. 2. Vehicles have the right of way on the portion of the highway set aside for them, but at crossings, all drivers, particularly of motor vehicles, must be highly vigilant and maintain such control that on the shortest possible notice they can stop their cars so as to prevent danger to pedestrians. Between crossings drivers are not held to this same high standard of care, but nevertheless, they must be constantly on the lookout for the safety of others. 3. Where a pedestrian deliberately selects the roadway of a city street for the purpose of walking longitudinally thereon, he must be most vigilant to look after his own safety. 4. In an action against an automobile owner to recover damages for the death of plaintiff’s- husband, an inlet cleaner, a compulsory nonsuit was properly entered where it appeared that decedent was walking longitudinally along the street from one street intersection to another; that the street, was divided in the middle by a grass plot, the west bound traffic going on one side and the east bound on the other; that decedent was struck from behind by plaintiff’s automobile while it was going at a rate of from 12 to 15 miles per hour, and that, when the car gave a warning signal, he became confused and “zigzagged” into its path.