Crawford v. Ellis

DRAPEAU, J. Plaintiff sued to recover for personal injuries and property damage sustained in a collision between her Buick coupé and defendant’s automobile.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Western Avenue and Exposition Boulevard in the city of Los Angeles, at 11:30 a. m. of April 11, 1949—a nice, clear day.

Western Avenue is 60 feet wide; runs north and south. Exposition Boulevard extends east and west, and is divided ■into two roadways 30 feet wide lying on either side of a railroad right of way which is 38 feet in width. The north half of Exposition is white-lined for three lanes of westbound traffic; the south half carries eastbound cars.

This intersection is controlled by semaphore signal lights alternating red and green.

[275]Plaintiff was driving west in the center lane of the north half of Exposition Boulevard approaching Western Avenue. When she was half a block east of the intersection, the signal light was red. She slowed down. When she was about four car lengths from the corner, the signal changed to green. There was no traffic immediately in front of her, but two westbound cars were standing at the corner waiting for the signal to change, i. e., one car in each lane adjacent to the center lane in which plaintiff was driving.

Traveling about 15 miles per hour, plaintiff passed between the two stopped cars and started into the intersection. As she did so, she looked up and saw defendant’s ear coming north on Western Avenue. She testified that it was then ‘ ‘south of the tracks, ’ ’ to wit: the 38-foot railway right of way. Whereupon, plaintiff “stepped on the gas and tried to get out of the way. ’ ’ She was unsuccessful. The front of defendant’s car struck the Buick back of the lefthand door. In the impact, plaintiff’s car was turned around and rolled into the next block before coming to rest at the northwest corner of the intersection.

Defendant was driving north on Western Avenue in the lane close to the right-hand curb. As he approached Exposition Boulevard, his speed was about 20 miles per hour. When he was 6 feet from the intersection, the signal light on the southeast corner turned to green. As he entered the intersection he saw the two stopped cars in the north half of Exposition Boulevard, but saw no moving traffic. He “pulled into the intersection and started to drive right on through.” When he first saw plaintiff’s car, it was “right in front” of him, about 4 feet away. He applied his brakes, and the impact of the collision stopped his car.