Many people have offered their support to the family of the heroic dad who was killed after ushering a family of ducks across a busy road.
On Friday (May 19), a kind-hearted man named Casey Rivara parked his car at a crossroads on a California highway to help a family of ducks cross the road safely.
The 41-year-old's family, including his widow and two children aged 11 and six, watched on from their vehicle as he got the ducklings and their mother safely to the other side after spotting them struggling with the heavy traffic.
But as he was heading back to his vehicle, he was tragically struck by a 17-year-old driver and was declared dead at the scene, as reported by CBS News.
Following the devastating tragedy, a GoFundMe page was set up by Tracy Rivara, the aunt of the father-of-two, and it has since amassed $116,840 in donations from the intended target of $30,000.
Tracy shared details about the heartbreaking incident and explained how her nephew met the love of his life, stating: "Casey met Angel (Chow), the love of his life, at age 17, when she joined his high school as an exchange student from Hong Kong.
"They quickly fell madly in love and remained inseparable partners for the past 23 years. They have been blessed with two beautiful children, Sophia (11) and James (6)," she continued.
"His family was Casey’s world, and to remain even closer to them he had recently started working at their children's school. He loved working at the school as he was able to positively impact other children.
"Casey was the kindest, most amazing husband and father. Even his last act in this world was a sign of his compassion. The family is trying to figure out how to recover and keep going after this immense loss. If you would like to express your love and support for Angel and her family, we ask that you please contribute here in lieu of flowers, meals, and other acts of kindness," Tracy added.
Rivara's widow took to Facebook to share a loving statement, saying that she and her family have been "deeply touched by the overwhelming love and support" they have received.
"We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you for the kind messages and gestures of kindness," Angel Chow wrote on Facebook. "It's truly humbling to hear how Casey has positively impacted your lives, and we're extremely grateful for that."
The heroic man's story will live on forever as many - including a 12-year-old named William Wimsatt, who witnessed the incident - reflect on his final moment.
Speaking to 3KCRA, William said: "He got out of the car, he was shooing the ducks, everyone was clapping because he was being really nice. He helped them get up on the curb because the baby duckies were having trouble."
The suspected driver remained at the scene and is believed to be assisting law enforcement with their investigation. According to Captain Scott Horrillo of Rocklin police, it is unlikely that she would face criminal charges, per Sky News.
Our thoughts remain with Rivara's loved ones.
