Wolfe v. Baube4/19/1991
JUSTICE STEPHENSON delivered the opinion of the Court.
The dispositive issue in this appeal is whether the evidence supports a jury finding that the plaintiff's decedent was guilty of willful and wanton negligence.
L. Marie Wolfe, administratrix of the estate of Robbie Shawn Wolfe (the administratrix), sued Frederick L. Baube, III, for the alleged wrongful death of the administratrix's 18-year-old son, Robbie Shawn Wolfe (Wolfe). A jury, finding that both Baube and Wolfe were guilty of willful and wanton negligence, returned a verdict in Baube's favor. The trial court entered judgment for Baube, and the administratrix appeals.
Wolfe died from injuries sustained in an automobile collision on Route 50, a limited-access highway in Arlington County. The accident
occurred shortly before 1:00 a.m. on November 13, 1986. The portion of the highway where the accident occurred is straight and relatively level and contains six lanes of travel -- three lanes on each side of double, solid yellow lines. The night was clear, visibility was good, the surface of the highway was dry, and traffic was relatively light. The speed limit was 45 miles per hour.
Immediately prior to the collision, Wolfe was driving his automobile eastbound, and Baube was driving his van westbound. Another vehicle, also traveling eastbound, was operated by Michael Clark.
Clark testified that he was driving his automobile in the right, eastbound lane when he observed ahead of him "a dark rectangular object," without lights, in the left, eastbound lane. Clark thought that the object was traveling eastbound. The object, however, was Baube's van, traveling westbound in the left, eastbound lane, with no lights on.
Clark then saw Wolfe's car pass him in the left, eastbound lane. Clark estimated that the Wolfe vehicle was traveling at a speed of 80 to 85 miles per hour. Immediately thereafter, the brakes on Wolfe's vehicle were applied suddenly, and Wolfe moved to the center, eastbound lane.
Baube's vehicle also moved to the center, eastbound lane where the two vehicles collided almost head-on. Clark slammed on his brakes but was unable to stop his vehicle before it collided with the rear of Wolfe's car.
An investigating police officer testified concerning physical evidence discovered at the accident scene. The officer found a yaw, or scuff, mark made by Wolfe's vehicle that commenced 288 feet before the point of impact. The right, front tire of Wolfe's car left a skid mark of 126 feet to the point of impact. These marks showed that Wolfe's car moved in a straight line, diagonally from the left, eastbound lane into the center, eastbound lane, and they corroborated Clark's recollection of the accident. Over the administratrix's objection, the officer was allowed to testify that, at impact, Wolfe's car was traveling at a minimum of 53.67 miles per hour and at a maximum of 60.55 miles per hour. Baube's vehicle left no skid marks.
Baube admitted to a nurse in the hospital to which he was taken that, during a period of several days immediately prior to the accident, he had consumed "a whole lot" of alcohol. When the collision occurred, Baube "had a beer in hand." After the accident, Baube's blood alcohol level was 0.18% by volume. Baube stipulated that he had pled guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol.
Under the general rule, a defendant who is willfully and wantonly negligent cannot rely upon a plaintiff's contributory negligence as a defense. Thomas v. Snow,
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