A California man was fatally hit by a car while helping a family of ducks cross a busy road on Thursday night. The man, who has not been identified, was seen by witnesses getting out of his car to help the ducks cross Stanford Ranch Road and Park Drive in Rocklin, about 22 miles from Sacramento.
William Wimsatt, a 12-year-old boy who witnessed the incident, told KCRA 3 that the man was “shooing the ducks” and that everyone was “clapping because he was being really nice.” Wimsatt said that he took photos of the man with his cellphone as he and the ducks crossed in front of his mother’s car.
Shortly after the ducks made it safely to the other side of the street, the man was struck by a car driven by a 17-year-old driver. The teen told police that he did not see the man until it was too late. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the car was not injured and was not cited by police. The California Highway Patrol is still investigating the crash.
The man’s family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for his funeral expenses. The page has raised over $80,000 as of the time of this writing.
The man’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief and sympathy on social media. Many people have praised the man for his act of kindness and for putting the lives of the ducks before his own.
“This man is a hero,” one person wrote on Twitter. “He died doing what he loved, helping animals.”
“This is so sad,” another person wrote. “He was such a kind person.”
The man’s death is a reminder of the dangers of helping animals in the road. It is important to be aware of your surroundings and to take precautions when helping animals cross the street.
