U.S. News
Tragic Heroism: A Father’s Final Act of Kindness Before Death
Knowledge Nuggets:
- A Californian father was killed while assisting a family of ducks cross a busy road in Rocklin, a city near Sacramento.
- The Good Samaritan, whose identity is still unknown, received applause from onlookers for his compassionate act before being struck by a car driven by a 17-year-old girl.
- The fatal accident is currently under investigation with the teenage driver cooperating with authorities; no charges have been filed and DUI is not suspected.
In an act of heartrending benevolence that ended in tragedy, a father from California sacrificed his own safety to assist a family of ducks navigate through a bustling traffic intersection in Rocklin, near Sacramento.
The incident took place on Thursday evening, serving as a somber reminder of the price of kindness in an unanticipated circumstance.
Eyewitnesses, including 12-year-old William Wimsatt, recounted the poignant episode, detailing how the man exited his vehicle to help the ducks.
The spectacle elicited applause from bystanders, a moment of communal warmth and respect for the man’s considerate gesture.
In a poignant twist, the young boy captured images of the man and the ducks on his cellphone. The photographs serve as a haunting memory of a simple act of compassion that was soon to turn into a catastrophe.
After the ducks safely crossed the road, the man was tragically hit by a car, to the shock and horror of the applauding onlookers.
William’s mother, along with others at the scene, stepped forward to console the man’s children who had witnessed the entire incident from their car.
Following the accident, a makeshift memorial adorned with rubber duckies and flowers sprung up at the site of the incident, honouring the man’s life and his final act of kindness.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fatality. The driver, a teenage girl, is actively cooperating and, at present, no charges have been leveled against her. The case currently holds no suspicion of DUI.
Dee
May 26, 2023 at 3:06 pm
They say we are all put on this earth for a reason. Prayers for the family. It is still a very heart warming story, with a very sad ending.
Mar
May 26, 2023 at 6:37 pm
Those who believe know that his story has not ended.
Samuel S. Lopez
May 26, 2023 at 7:18 pm
This 17 years old young girl who struck this kind loving man helping that family of ducks crossing that busy traffic dangerous intersection don’t supposed to be driving in the first place everything is donoretty obvious she wasn’t paying attention about what she was doing which it was driving she didn’t see the man helping those little innocent tender lovely duckies crossing that dangerous intersection and by the time she saw him it was to late to brake or do anything so she struck him fatally because she wasn’t paying attention about what she was doing which she don’t supposed to be doing and she accelerated too fast so is her negligence!!! And she have to pay the price for what she’s done no pity or mercy no sympathy!! Life sentence!!!!for her!!!
Kathleen Marion
May 27, 2023 at 4:12 pm
Driving age in California is 16, why do you suppose that she shouldn’t have been driving? Kind of judgemental on your part. Don’t suppose anything. I’m sure the police can do a better job investigating with real facts rather than your suppositions. If she was in fact not paying attention she will have to live with this her entire life. But if it was just an avoidable accident I have compassion for this young girl who has to live with the fact that she killed a man who was a father and husband.
JB
May 26, 2023 at 8:04 pm
No words…besides heart breaking. So tragic. RIP and condolences to his poor kids who had to witness that. So awful. Pit in stomach reading this. 🙁
JB
May 26, 2023 at 8:09 pm
What beautiful kids that spoke about the man too…what a sad, tough impression this will have made on their lives.
Shirley
May 27, 2023 at 1:34 am
This is exactly what happens when people aren’t paying attention or using their phone. On August 6th of this year will a year since my son was killed crossing the road by a taxi. The driver said he never saw him till he hit him doing 50 miles an hr. It’s still hard to believe. My heart goes out to his family especially his children. May God give you the grace to get through.
Kathleen Marion
May 27, 2023 at 4:14 pm
How do you know she was using her phone? Are you ASSuming or just being judgemental? Let’s save the judgement until all the facts are known!
Patty
May 28, 2023 at 1:27 am
So sad! What a kind man he was! The young girl will have to live with what she did all her life. And his poor children having to witness that is also heart breaking. She should still be charged with vehicular homicide, it is only fair, she should lose her license until she is responsible enough to be driving.
Jumbo
May 28, 2023 at 2:39 pm
Do you know the details of what happened?
If not I find it ignorant to make such comments, how come he didn’t see her, he was jay-walking, he should pay attention and make sure cars can see him, many times I have passed a car in the lane next to me seemingly not moving at an intersection and as I start to pass there has been a pedestrian or animal in the road that you don’t see until you are passing a car. Be careful before casting judgements, the police haven’t come to you conclusions yet. If she did wrong, she will face the consequences.