Consolacion Gabeto vs Agaton Araneta

G.R. No. L-15674, October 17, 1921

Street, J.

Facts:
Herein petitioner is the widow of one Proceso Gayetano who died when he met an
accident while riding a carromata. It was found that on August 4, 1918, Proceso Gayetano
together with his friend, Basilio Ilano boarded a carromata operated by Julio Pagnaya near Plaza
Gay in the City of Iloilo with the view of going to the cockpit located in the same city. As the
driver of the carromata was about to head towards the direction of the cockpit, one Agaton
Araneta stepped out of the street and laid his hands on the reins which effective stopped the
horse. Araneta claimed to have called out the carromata first, but Pagnaya denied hearing him
call him out so Pagnaya pulled on the reins of the bridle to free the horse from the control of
Agaton Araneta in order to proceed to their destination. However, the bridle loosened and the
bit came off the horse's mouth. Pagnayan alighted to fixed it, but due to his movements, the
horse became agitated and started moving forward until it went full speed up the street. The
other passenger, Ilano, was able to alight from the carromata while it was still slow, however,
Gayetano was only able to jump off the said carromata while it was on full speed. He retained
some injuries that led to his death. Due to this, the widow of Gayetano filed a complaint against
Agaton Araneta for the death of her husband.

Issue:
Is the death of Proceso Gayetano caused by the act of Agaton Araneta?

Held:
The Court answered in the negative.

The Court found that the evidence shows that the stopping of the rig by Agaton Araneta in the
middle of the street was too remote from the accident that presently ensued to be considered
the legal or proximate cause thereof. Moreover, by his action of leaving his post at the head of
the hors, the driver was the person primarily responsible for the control of the animal, and
herein defendant cannot be charged with liability for the accident resulting from the action of
the horse thereafter. Furthermore, the evidence indicates that the bridle was old, and the
leather of which it was made was probably so weak as to be easily broken. In addition to this,
Julio jerked the rein, thereby causing the bit it come out of the horse's mouth. The Court also
noted that Julio, after alighting, led the horse over to the curb, and proceeded to fix the bridle,
and that in so doing the bridle was slipped entirely off, when the horse, feeling himself free from
control, started to go away as previously stated.