The death of a Hayward man who fell from a pedestrian overcrossing outside Candlestick Park at the start of the San Francisco 49ers game on Sunday appears to have been a tragic accident, the city’s police chief said today.
Kevin Hayes, 32, fell from the Jamestown pedestrian walkway shortly before 1:30 p.m., just after the kickoff of the 49ers’ season opener against the Green Bay Packers.
The walkway crosses over Jamestown Avenue to allow fans to access the stadium without walking through traffic, police said.
Hayes was with his brother, and multiple witnesses indicated that he may have been intoxicated at the time of the fall, police said. Medical crews responded but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
“It looks like it was just an accidental fall,” police Chief Greg Suhr said. “It just looks like a very sad, tragic accident.”
Mayor Ed Lee said he and other city officials are “devastated by the death and want to make sure everything is inspected properly” on the overcrossing.
Lee said the death “certainly marred an otherwise fairly happy day for fans,” who saw the 49ers beat the Packers 34-28.
The 49ers released a statement following Hayes’ death.
“We would like to express our deepest condolences to the family during this difficult time,” the team’s statement said.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
