Officer Down Memorial Page - http://www.odmp.org

Officer John Calvin LaMar | California Highway Patrol, California
California Highway Patrol, California

Officer

John Calvin LaMar

California Highway Patrol, California

End of Watch: Friday, December 10, 1954

Biographical Info

Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Struck by vehicle
Date of Incident: November 23, 1954
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Officer John LaMar succumbed to injuries received when he was struck by a vehicle on U.S. Route 99 north of Berkshire Road in Bakersfield at 7 pm.

Officer LaMar was inspecting a disabled vehicle being hooked to a tow truck. Despite flares on the roadway to warn drivers, a speeding vehicle crashed into the stalled car and hit Officer LaMar. He was transported to the San Joaquin Hospital, where he passed away 17 days later.

The driver was initially charged with manslaughter. He died in a plane crash a couple of years later.

Officer LaMar was a United States Navy WWII veteran who had served with the California Highway Patrol for only two months and previously served with the Tulare Police Department. He was survived by his expectant wife, two sons, four brothers, and three sisters.