A father dies for trying to save ducks

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A California father died Thursday night after being hit by a car while helping a family of ducks cross a road, according to the New York Post.

The tragedy occurred in the town of Rocklin, less than 15 kilometers from Sacramento. A 12-year-old witnessed the tragedy. He had just photographed the man, whose identity has not been released, as he crossed the road with the ducks.

“He helped them get up over the sidewalk because all the little baby ducks were having trouble, then he drove past our car, William Wimsatt said. My mom rolled down the car window and said, “Good job.” I congratulated him too. He was hit immediately afterwards by a car that seemed to come out of nowhere.”

“I didn't see the car hit him,” he added. All I remember is the noise at the intersection. His shoes and one of his socks were right in front of our car.”

Police are still investigating the cause of death. The driver who hit the man, a 17-year-old girl, is cooperating with the authorities and is not currently the subject of any charges.

Ducks at the origin of a tragedy in Quebec

Recall that in Quebec, ducks crossing the road were also the cause of a tragedy, in Sainte-Élisabeth, in Lanaudière, on July 22, 2019. Éric Rondeau was found guilty of dangerous driving causing death, last January. The man had stopped his Ford F-150 pulling an empty trailer to avoid running over a duck and six ducklings crossing Highway 345, before turning in the opposite direction to avoid the animals, which had caused the death of a motorcyclist coming into the other lane, before the collision.