On July 29, 2002, at about 1:45 a.m., a man fleeing from police collided with a Modesto Police patrol car at the intersection of South Santa Cruz Avenue and Mono Drive. Sergeant Steve May, a 24-year police veteran, was in the area looking for a suspect in a stolen black GMC truck wanted for assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer. The 18-year-old suspect fled from police with reckless disregard and violently struck Sergeant Steve May's patrol car in the intersection. The suspect ran several stop signs as he fled through the neighborhood at speeds estimated at 60-65 miles per hour.
Sergeant May's patrol car struck a tree, pinning him inside. Emergency responders worked feverishly for 40 minutes until they were able to free Sergeant May from his patrol car. He suffered critical injuries including a fractured skull, numerous broken bones, and internal injuries. The suspect died after his stolen truck struck a house, causing him to be ejected and trapped under rubble from the partially collapsed home.
Sergeant May was rushed to a hospital. His strength, apparent in his many years serving and leading the Modesto Police Department, was evident as he clung to life. Sergeant May never regained consciousness after the violent collision. Sergeant Steve May was transported to a Bay Area rehabilitation hospital in September of 2002 and he returned to the Kindred Rehabilitation Hospital in downtown Modesto a short time later. He died on July 23, 2009 at 3:26 PM from complications resulting from injuries sustained in the 2002 collision. He was born in the same hospital that he passed away in.
Sergeant May's loving wife, Diana May, has been by her husband's side every day since the tragic crash. The support of the community in days, months, and years after the collision has been tremendous.
Interim Modesto Police Chief Michael Harden said, "Steve was a great friend, a great police officer and a great leader. More importantly, Steve was a great husband and father. The department is deeply saddened with Steve's passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to Diana, their children, Steve's parents, sister and Steve's extended family during this very difficult time."
Sergeant May is the second known Modesto police officer to lose his life from injuries sustained in the line of duty since the inception of the department in 1884. Sergeant May, a well-respected and hard-working leader, will be missed by his brothers and sisters at the Modesto Police Department.
Sergeant May is honored at the Stanislaus County Peace Officer Memorial in Lakewood Memorial Cemetery, The California State Peace Officer Memorial in Sacramento, CA, and the National Peace Officer Memorial in Washington, D.C., Panel 58-W, Line 27.
Sergeant May's patrol car struck a tree, pinning him inside. Emergency responders worked feverishly for 40 minutes until they were able to free Sergeant May from his patrol car. He suffered critical injuries including a fractured skull, numerous broken bones, and internal injuries. The suspect died after his stolen truck struck a house, causing him to be ejected and trapped under rubble from the partially collapsed home.
Sergeant May was rushed to a hospital. His strength, apparent in his many years serving and leading the Modesto Police Department, was evident as he clung to life. Sergeant May never regained consciousness after the violent collision. Sergeant Steve May was transported to a Bay Area rehabilitation hospital in September of 2002 and he returned to the Kindred Rehabilitation Hospital in downtown Modesto a short time later. He died on July 23, 2009 at 3:26 PM from complications resulting from injuries sustained in the 2002 collision. He was born in the same hospital that he passed away in.
Sergeant May's loving wife, Diana May, has been by her husband's side every day since the tragic crash. The support of the community in days, months, and years after the collision has been tremendous.
Interim Modesto Police Chief Michael Harden said, "Steve was a great friend, a great police officer and a great leader. More importantly, Steve was a great husband and father. The department is deeply saddened with Steve's passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to Diana, their children, Steve's parents, sister and Steve's extended family during this very difficult time."
Sergeant May is the second known Modesto police officer to lose his life from injuries sustained in the line of duty since the inception of the department in 1884. Sergeant May, a well-respected and hard-working leader, will be missed by his brothers and sisters at the Modesto Police Department.
Sergeant May is honored at the Stanislaus County Peace Officer Memorial in Lakewood Memorial Cemetery, The California State Peace Officer Memorial in Sacramento, CA, and the National Peace Officer Memorial in Washington, D.C., Panel 58-W, Line 27.
On July 29, 2002, at about 1:45 a.m., a man fleeing from police collided with a Modesto Police patrol car at the intersection of South Santa Cruz Avenue and Mono Drive. Sergeant Steve May, a 24-year police veteran, was in the area looking for a suspect in a stolen black GMC truck wanted for assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer. The 18-year-old suspect fled from police with reckless disregard and violently struck Sergeant Steve May's patrol car in the intersection. The suspect ran several stop signs as he fled through the neighborhood at speeds estimated at 60-65 miles per hour.
Sergeant May's patrol car struck a tree, pinning him inside. Emergency responders worked feverishly for 40 minutes until they were able to free Sergeant May from his patrol car. He suffered critical injuries including a fractured skull, numerous broken bones, and internal injuries. The suspect died after his stolen truck struck a house, causing him to be ejected and trapped under rubble from the partially collapsed home.
Sergeant May was rushed to a hospital. His strength, apparent in his many years serving and leading the Modesto Police Department, was evident as he clung to life. Sergeant May never regained consciousness after the violent collision. Sergeant Steve May was transported to a Bay Area rehabilitation hospital in September of 2002 and he returned to the Kindred Rehabilitation Hospital in downtown Modesto a short time later. He died on July 23, 2009 at 3:26 PM from complications resulting from injuries sustained in the 2002 collision. He was born in the same hospital that he passed away in.
Sergeant May's loving wife, Diana May, has been by her husband's side every day since the tragic crash. The support of the community in days, months, and years after the collision has been tremendous.
Interim Modesto Police Chief Michael Harden said, "Steve was a great friend, a great police officer and a great leader. More importantly, Steve was a great husband and father. The department is deeply saddened with Steve's passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to Diana, their children, Steve's parents, sister and Steve's extended family during this very difficult time."
Sergeant May is the second known Modesto police officer to lose his life from injuries sustained in the line of duty since the inception of the department in 1884. Sergeant May, a well-respected and hard-working leader, will be missed by his brothers and sisters at the Modesto Police Department.
Sergeant May is honored at the Stanislaus County Peace Officer Memorial in Lakewood Memorial Cemetery, The California State Peace Officer Memorial in Sacramento, CA, and the National Peace Officer Memorial in Washington, D.C., Panel 58-W, Line 27.
Sergeant May's patrol car struck a tree, pinning him inside. Emergency responders worked feverishly for 40 minutes until they were able to free Sergeant May from his patrol car. He suffered critical injuries including a fractured skull, numerous broken bones, and internal injuries. The suspect died after his stolen truck struck a house, causing him to be ejected and trapped under rubble from the partially collapsed home.
Sergeant May was rushed to a hospital. His strength, apparent in his many years serving and leading the Modesto Police Department, was evident as he clung to life. Sergeant May never regained consciousness after the violent collision. Sergeant Steve May was transported to a Bay Area rehabilitation hospital in September of 2002 and he returned to the Kindred Rehabilitation Hospital in downtown Modesto a short time later. He died on July 23, 2009 at 3:26 PM from complications resulting from injuries sustained in the 2002 collision. He was born in the same hospital that he passed away in.
Sergeant May's loving wife, Diana May, has been by her husband's side every day since the tragic crash. The support of the community in days, months, and years after the collision has been tremendous.
Interim Modesto Police Chief Michael Harden said, "Steve was a great friend, a great police officer and a great leader. More importantly, Steve was a great husband and father. The department is deeply saddened with Steve's passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to Diana, their children, Steve's parents, sister and Steve's extended family during this very difficult time."
Sergeant May is the second known Modesto police officer to lose his life from injuries sustained in the line of duty since the inception of the department in 1884. Sergeant May, a well-respected and hard-working leader, will be missed by his brothers and sisters at the Modesto Police Department.
Sergeant May is honored at the Stanislaus County Peace Officer Memorial in Lakewood Memorial Cemetery, The California State Peace Officer Memorial in Sacramento, CA, and the National Peace Officer Memorial in Washington, D.C., Panel 58-W, Line 27.
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