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!!!
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.
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.