49ers Fan Dies In Fall, Other NFL Fans Injured In Separate Incident

As a 49ers fan dies in a stadium fall, two other football fans were also injured when a railing gave way during a separate event.

The 49ers fan killed in the fall at Candlestick Park in San Francisco has not yet been publicly named. The tragedy occurred during the 49ers’ final season opener at the San Francisco stadium yesterday, shortly after kickoff at around 1:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

The fan killed in the plunge was described as a man in his 30s, and some witnesses report that he appeared visibly intoxicated before he fell to his death from an unspecified height to the sidewalk on the Jamestown walkway surrounding Candlestick Park stadium.

CBS Sports reports that the 49ers fan who died at last night’s season opener was one of several injured or killed similarly at games in recent months, explaining:

“This is the second serious accident to occur at an NFL stadium in less than two weeks. On Aug. 30, a fan at a Denver Broncos preseason game was seriously injured when he fell off an escalator… Another incident occurred at Turner Field during an Atlanta Braves game when a fan fell 60-feet from the upperdeck and died. That death, on Aug. 12, was ruled an accident.”

ABC says two more fans were injured in a fall yesterday in Indiana, but that the pair were not seriously injured when a barrier collapsed:

“The death also happened the same day a railing collapsed at the Colts’ game against the Raiders in Indianapolis injuring two fans who were leaning against the barrier above the tunnel leading to Oakland’s locker room. It appeared both fans in Indiana escaped serious injury, stadium officials said.”

Although a 49ers fan died during the game, Fox did not mention the incident during its broadcast yesterday. Police withheld the man’s identity pending next of kin notification.