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THE POLICE REPORT WHICH INCLUDED THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER OF THE CAR ALLEGED TO HAVE FLED THE SCENE OF THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WAS INADMISSIBLE HEARSAY; HOWEVER, OTHER EVIDENCE, INCLUDING THE TESTIMONY OF THE DRIVER OF THE CAR WHICH WAS STRUCK, SUFFICIENTLY IDENTIFIED THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER AND THE CAR (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department determined the uninsured motorist carrier’s petitions to permanently stay arbitration in this car-accident case were properly granted because the identity of the owner of the car which fled the scene (Zeno) was adequately demonstrated. Although the police report which included the license plate number of the car alleged to have fled the scene was inadmissible hearsay, the eyewitness testimony at the framed issue hearing by the driver (Welder) of the car which was struck was sufficient:

Here, the information in the police report was not derived from the personal observations of the police officer, who did not observe the accident (see CPLR 4518[a] …). Because the source of the information in the police report regarding the license plate number of the Hyundai cannot be identified, the police report was inadmissible … . …

… [T]he Supreme Court’s determination that Zeno’s vehicle was involved in the subject accident is supported by the evidence presented at the hearing, excluding the police report … . Welker testified that he clearly observed the color, make, style, and license plate number of the offending vehicle, recorded the license plate number, and provided that information to the police officer who responded to the accident. Welker also testified that the license plate number that corresponded to Zeno’s vehicle was identical to the license plate number he provided to the police officer. Further, the police officer testified that he routinely takes a statement from the operator of a vehicle at the scene of an accident, and it is common practice for this information to be written in the police accident report. While Zeno stated that there was no pre-existing damage to his vehicle prior to the accident and that no repairs were made to the front of the vehicle, photographs of his vehicle that were admitted at the hearing show that, when compared to the front of the vehicle on the passenger’s side, the front of the vehicle on the driver’s side has different, replacement, or missing parts. Country-Wide Ins. Co. v Lobello, 2020 NY Slip Op 04836, Second Dept 9-2-20

 

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