A kindhearted man alighted from his car and was helping a family of ducks cross the road when he got hit by a car and died, according to KCRA News.
In Rocklin, California, on 18 May, Casey Rivara, a 41-year-old man, was driving his children home when they noticed a family of ducks struggling to cross the road.
Upon seeing the ducks in need, Mr. Rivara decided to leave his car and assist them in crossing the road. Tragically, while he was engaged in this act of kindness, he was struck by a passing vehicle that was driven by a 17-year-old girl.
A 12-year-old boy named William, who witnessed the incident, captured photographs of Mr. Rivara helping the ducklings on their journey.
William recounted the event to KCRA, stating, “He stepped out of his vehicle and guided the ducks while everyone applauded his compassionate actions. He helped them overcome the curb because the baby ducklings were struggling, and then he walked in front of our car.”
Following the accident, William and his younger sister chose to remain at home with their mother for a day, still shaken by what they had witnessed.
Another 12-year-old witness named Jude returned to the intersection after the incident, carrying flowers and rubber duckies as a tribute. He encouraged others to honor the memory of the kind-hearted man who had tragically lost his life. Jude described Mr. Rivara as an “amazing person.”
Mr. Rivara is survived by his wife, Angel, and their two children, aged six and 11.
In order to support his grieving family during this difficult time, Mr. Rivara’s aunt initiated a GoFundMe campaign. As of the time of writing, the campaign has raised an impressive sum of $66,093 (S$89,126), surpassing its original goal of $30,000 (S$40,455).
The incident is currently under investigation by the police, as reported by KCRA. However, it is unlikely that the 17-year-old driver involved will face criminal charges, as she remained at the scene and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.