Man Killed While Helping Ducklings Safely Cross Busy California Street

Rubber ducks are placed in a memorial for Casey Rivara that stands at the intersection of Stanford Ranch Road and Park Drive in Rocklin, Calif., on May 23, 2023. Hector Amezcua/The Sacramento Bee via AP

ROCKLIN, Calif.—His family says it’s no surprise that Casey Rivara’s final act was one of compassion. When he spotted a mama duck trying to guide her ducklings across a busy California intersection, Rivara stopped his car at a red light and got out to help them make it to safety.

Rivara made sure traffic in all directions was stopped, witnesses said, then escorted the duck and her babies to the other side of the street around 8:15 p.m. May 18 in suburban Rocklin, northeast of Sacramento.