Date: 13 Apr 1957
Place: Carson City, Nevada
In the early morning, about 2 am, two cars collided head-on on a long stretch of highway.
One car, a 1953 station wagon had a single occupant, driver Ronald Frank Malestin (22) (died instantly) was on the wrong side of the road when it collided with the other vehicle, a 1950 sedan.
In the sedan was a husband, wife and their two daughters- Clifford Montgomery (34) (survived), Anita (34) (driver- died instantly), Tina Elizabeth (8) (died during surgery for head trauma), and Monti Marie (2) (survived).
The estimated combined speeds of the two vehicles was more than 130 MPH. Highway patrolmen described the accident as "one of the worst" they'd ever seen.
Anita Montgomery was my great-aunt.
Helen & Anita (Sisters) as children
Anita Mae Montgomery
Born: Anita Mae Seaver on 05 Jun 1922 in Indiana
Died: 13 Apr 1957, Carson City, Nevada, age 34
Cause of Death: Multiple and Extensive Injuries (Crushed) in Automobile accident
Anita's death certificate:
Daughter of Otto Watson Seaver (1901-1972) & Ruby Mae Henderson (1901-1990)
Married 1st to Eugene Robert Quist (1916-1977), together they had 3 children: Patricia, Robert & Tina.
Married 2nd to Clifford Milton Noland Montgomery (1924-1986) in 1941 and they had a daughter- Monti Marie.
(At the time of the accident, Patricia & Robert were living with their father Eugene Quist)
Anita and her daughter Tina are buried together in Lone Mountain Cemetery in Carson City, Nevada.
Two years later, a totla of $9,112 was awarded to the Montgomery family from Ronald's estate. Clifford received $7,832 for the death of his wife Anita and four year old Monti received $1,275 for the loss of her mother. Eugene Quist, Tina's father, receieved only $5 for the loss of his daughter, Tina.
The money was taken from the estate of Ronald Malespin, the other driver who was killed in the accident because he had been on the wrong side of the road.
So, the thing is, I've known about this "story" a long time. I've always been very partial and biased because a 22 year old killed a wife and mother who was very dear to my family. But, I never stopped to think about him before. Who was he? What I found shocked me.
I knew that Ronald was only 22 years old at the time of his death/car accident, but he wasn't just some "kid"....
Ronald's death certificate:
Ronald Frank Malespin
Born: 05 Mar 1935 in San Francisco, California
Died: 13 Apr 1957 in Carson City, Nevada, age 22
Cause of death: Extensive Head Injuries (Crushed) due to car accident
Son of Frank Malespin (1911-1984) & Ethel S. Davis (1917-1999).
Ronald married Myra Carolyn McCullouch (1932-2012) in 1954 and out of that union came 3 children, Melanie, Cindy & Ron. I was so devastated to hear that it wasn't just him. He had a wife and a family. He wasn't just a kid that was probably messing around at 2 am...he probably just fell asleep at the wheel and it cost him his life and the lives of two others.
Ronald was buried in the same cemetery as Anita and Tina- Lone Mountain Cemetery in Carson City.
When I think of this accident, I don't just think of my great-aunt and her daughter...I think of that face- Ronald's face in that picture. It's a beautiful picture. At the end of the day, two families lost loved ones. Such a tragedy!
I enjoyed reading about your great aunt especially your new perspective.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear it, thank you for reading!
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