Fred H. Montank, a special investigator in the Divison of Motor Vehicles office in San Luis Obispo, died shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, in a traffic accident in Ventura. Montank, 33, was en route to Van Nuys on an assignment when his southbound car veered across the centerline of Highway 101 just south of Emma Wood Park, according to patrolmen.
His vehicle sideswiped a northbound car then went into a broadside slide and was struck by another northbound car.
Montank was ejected from his vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:30 p.m. Two passengers in the other vehicles were taken to a Ventura hospital with major injuries.
Montank was a police officer in Anchorage, Alaska, before he took the state job. His first assignment was in the San Luis Obispo office in 1963. He remained there until 1967, when he went to Dallas to study theology.
After six months in that field, he returned to San Luis Obispo in January 1968. Survivors include the widow, Patricia; two sons, Carl and Kevin, and a daughter, Cindy, all of San Luis Obispo.
Funeral services were conducted at the Calvary Baptist Church followed by interment in IOOF Cemetery under direction of the Sutcliffe .
Gerald (Jerry) M. Regan was raised in Fresno, California. He graduated from California State University at Fresno in June, 1969 with a degree in Criminology-Law Enforcement option.
While attending CSUF, he was active in the Reserves Unit which is affiliated with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department. In the spring of 1969 he was chosen by his instructors and peers as the Reserve Officer of the Year. Upon graduation in June, 1969, he was hired by the Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement (BNE) as a Narcotics Agent, based in Fresno. He loved his job and served with great enthusiasm.
On the rainy evening of November 5, 1969, while en route to the stake-out of a lab in Merced, Jerry’s car was hit broadside and he died instantly. He was laid to rest on his 22nd birthday. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Calvo, his parents, John and Alma Regan, his sister, Kathy Gillis, and his brother John Regan.
Officer Ambers O. Shewmaker was patrolling near Banning late in the evening when he was shot by a motorist he stopped for speeding. Shewmaker was using his radio at the time he was shot and his killer was driving a stolen car. The 28-year-old patrol officer died the following day and his killer was captured soon after the shooting. Officer Shewmaker had been a CHP officer for nine months.
Officer Robert M. Blomo was on patrol when his motorcycle struck a tractor-trailer that pulled out in front of him at an intersection. Blomo’s motorcycle was dragged 82 feet, slid into a curb and burst into flames, killing the patrol officer. The 25-year-old officer had been a member of the CHP for three years and assigned to Baldwin Park since graduating from the Academy in 1966.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Reserve Motor Deputy Lionel Dashley was assigned to the Special Enforcement Bureau Reserve Motors Detail at the time of his death. Deputy Dashley was in pursuit of a car on Pacific Coast Highway when he lost control of his motorcycle and hit a truck head-on, killing him instantly.
Officer Richard G. Woods was enroute to court to testify in a criminal case when he encountered stop-and-go traffic on the freeway. Woods was in the process of changing lanes when the traffic ahead of him came to a sudden stop. The patrol officer’s motorcycle struck the rear of a panel truck that stopped in front of him killing the 29-year-old patrolman. Officer Woods was a member of the CHP for almost three years and had served in Central Los Angeles before being assigned to Baldwin Park.
