Sacramento State student Casey M. Raffaelli, a talented artist, avid skateboarder and rowing enthusiast, died on March 22 after succumbing to head injuries sustained in a skateboarding accident. He was 20.

Raffaelli, the son of San Mateo Police Capt. Kevin Raffaelli and nephew of South San Francisco Police Chief Mark Raffaelli, was skateboarding down a steep hill in San Francisco when he fell.

While the cause of the accident is still unclear, it has been determined by family members that he was not wearing a helmet.

Raffaelli was going nearly 20 mph down Hillside Boulevard, on his way to obtain a clerks card for his job at Lunardi’s grocery store, when he fell and hit his head against the ground, according to witnesses.

Raffaelli lost consciousness at the scene and never regained it.Raffaelli spent one week at the San Francisco General Hospital in intensive care with brain swelling, said his uncle, Mark Raffaelli.

He was taken off life-support eight days later on March 22, according to the San Mateo County coroner’s office.

Raffaelli is said to have been an adventurous, fearless, smart and incredibly witty young man.

“I think that I’ll miss his sense of humor, friendship and loyalty the most,” Mark Raffaelli said.

He said that Raffaelli was also involved in the family business of law enforcement.

“Casey was once a-parking enforcement representative for the San Mateo Police Department,” Mark Raffaelli said. “He was studying criminal justice (at Sac State) during the time of the accident.”

“Casey’s dad and myself want to emphasize helmet safety,” Mark Raffaelli said. “A lot of young people, like Casey, think that they are immune to danger?.Had Casey been wearing a helmet, he would be still be with us today.”

Approximately 26,000 people require hospital treatment for injuries relating to skateboarding, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Of that number, experienced skaters like Raffaelli, who are said to take more risks and wear less protective gear, have the second highest number of injuries.

Raffaelli is survived by his father Kevin Raffaelli, his stepmother Elizabeth Raffaelli, his mother Theresa Foster, his stepfather George Foster, and his three older brothers, Joshua, Gabriel and Anthony.-

Raffaelli’s memorial, which was held on March 27 at the All Souls Church in South San Francisco, was attended by more than 400 friends and family members.

Donations in his memory can be made to the NORCAL/Sierra Rowing Crew c/o Mike Stills 530 Bay Road,-Menlo Park,-94025.

Ashley Evans can be reached at [email protected]