California Man Killed by Teen Driver After Helping Family of Ducks Safely Cross the Road

In a tragic incident on Thursday, a California man who tried to help a family of ducks safely cross the road was killed by a teen driver.

According to Insider, Casey Rivara, 41, was fatally struck by the teen's car while returning to his vehicle after escorting the ducklings.

The Rocklin Police Department said the incident happened at Stanford Ranch Road and Park Drive in Placer County, California, around 8:15 p.m.

Witnesses saw Rivara safely escorting the ducks away from the road after he stopped and got out of his vehicle. Unfortunately, he was tragically hit by the vehicle driven by the teenager.

The 17-year-old driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the authorities. Police said she would unlikely face criminal charges as there appeared to be no criminal negligence. However, authorities noted that an investigation was ongoing.

California Man Applauded for His Act of Kindness Before Getting Struck

The kind-hearted California man who tragically lost his life while helping a family of ducks cross a busy intersection was praised by witnesses in the area.

A 12-year-old boy, who witnessed the accident, told KCRA-TV that people had applauded Casey Rivara's act of kindness before he was struck, PEOPLE reported.

"He got out of the car and was shooing the ducks, and everyone was clapping because he was being really nice," the boy told the outlet. "He helped them get up over the curb because all the little baby duckies were having trouble, and then he walked in front of our car."

The boy noted that he did not see where the vehicle came from, adding that he just heard "the sound" and then saw Rivara "flying across the intersection," with his shoes and one of his socks "right in front of our car."

Rivara's aunt, who set up a GoFundMe page to support Rivara's grieving widow and their two children, aged 11 and 6, said his nephew was driving his children home after their swim practice when they saw the mother duck and ducklings struggling to cross a busy road.

Rivara's selfless act has left a lasting impression on the local community. In a touching tribute, a makeshift memorial adorned with flowers and rubber ducks was erected at the accident site.

California Man Remembered by His Family

The Associated Press reported that the California man was also admired by those who knew him for his exceptional qualities as as a husband and a parent. As of Tuesday afternoon, the GoFundMe page has already raised nearly $90,000.

"The family is trying to figure out how to recover and keep going after this immense loss," Rivara's aunt, Tracey Rivara, wrote on the verified GoFundMe page.

Rivara was married to his high school sweetheart Angel Chow who arrived at his high school as an exchange student from Hong Kong. According to his aunt, his nephew had recently started working at their children's school to remain even closer to them.

Chow has expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and members of the community.

"It's truly humbling to hear how Casey has positively impacted your lives, and we're extremely grateful for that," Chow wrote on Facebook Monday.

To preserve Rivara's memory, Chow shared her plan to compile the tributes in a book their children can look at whenever they miss him.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Father Struck and Killed While Helping Family of Ducks Cross Street - From ABC News