R. L. Ditzler Poultry Co. v. Forsythe

Application by appellees for an award of compensation under the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Law against appellant, because of the accidental injury to, and the death of, Herbert S. Forsythe, the husband and father, respectively, of appellees.

The Industrial Board found that at the time of his accident and death, appellees' decedent was in the employ of appellant at an average weekly wage of $23.49; that his injury and death were the result of an accident arising out of and in the course of his said employment, and that appellees were respectively his widow and his son, who were totally dependent upon him for support, and awarded compensation at the rate of $12.92, and $100 for funeral expenses, from which this appeal.

It appears by the undisputed evidence that the deceased had been employed by appellant but ten days prior to the accident. He lived at Huntington at the *Page 137 time, and had lived there for about six years. His work was out of South Whitley, about sixteen or eighteen miles from Huntington. He drove a huckster truck out of South Whitley, and, in order to reach his work, he drove his own car from Huntington to South Whitley in the morning and home in the evening. He was intending to get a home in South Whitley, but had been unable to find one so far. His day's work was finished when he had stored his truck in the garage at South Whitley, in the evening. On the day of the accident he was on his way home from South Whitley to Huntington driving his own car, in the evening, after his work was done, when by accident he was killed. On these facts taken from appellant's brief, appellee having failed to file a brief, we must hold that appellant's decedent was not in due course of his employment when killed.

Award reversed.

Dausman, J., absent.