City of Richmond v. Branch

On February 14, 1959, at approximately 8:15 p. m., as James Branch was driving his automobile along Kane street, in the city of Richmond, a front wheel of his car suddenly dropped into a hole in the street. There were no lights, flares, or flame pots showing any depression in the street, and there were no barricades placed as a warning to travelers. Branch had the headlights of his car burning brightly; but the night was dark and a slight rain was falling. He got out of his car, observed that its right front wheel had sunk about 13 to 15 inches in the hole, and was so deeply sunk in muck and…