Road Closure Planned For San Mateo Police Memorial

SAN MATEO, CA — Part of 28th Avenue will temporarily close Wednesday afternoon for a police memorial ceremony in San Mateo's Bay Meadows neighborhood, police said.

The roadway will be blocked between Saratoga Drive and Paddock Way from 3:30 to 4 p.m. Police advised drivers to use alternate routes to enter the Bay Meadows community during the closure.

The closure will accommodate police vehicles and a fire truck attending a brief public memorial at Bay Meadows Park for San Mateo Reserve Officer Steven Clark, who was killed in the line of duty 70 years ago Wednesday.

The ceremony will be held near the location where Clark died on Aug. 19, 1956.

Clark was working at the former Bay Meadows Race Track when two stock cars collided. He was struck while rushing across the track to help keep spectators away from the crash.

Clark, 46, was taken to Mills Memorial Hospital, where he died.

His death was largely overlooked for decades before researchers discovered records showing that Clark had died in the line of duty.

The discovery ultimately led San Mateo police to formally recognize Clark as a fallen officer and begin holding memorial ceremonies in his honor.

Police said they planned to reopen 28th Avenue as soon as Wednesday's ceremony concluded.