The widow of a California father-of-two who was killed by a teenage driver while piloting a family of ducklings down a busy road says she has been “deeply touched by the overwhelming love and support” her family has received after her husband died.
Casey Rivara, a 41-year-old father of two, had parked his car on the side of the road to lead the mother duck and her duckling family across the intersection of Park Drive and Stanford Ranch Boulevard in Rocklin, California. Friday evening.
He was hit and killed by a 17-year-old female driver and killed as his helpless children, Sophia and James, ages eleven and six, watched from the family car.
In a statement, his widow Angel Chow said: “We are deeply moved by the overwhelming love and support we have received for Casey Rivara and our family over the past few days.
“We would like to thank you all very much for the kind messages and gestures of kindness.
“It’s really humbling to hear how Casey has positively impacted your life, and we’re so thankful for that.”
Casey Rivara, 41, was hit and killed by a 17-year-old female driver as he led a family of ducks through an intersection in Rocklin, California. He is pictured with his wife Angel Chow and two children Sophia, 11, and James, six in a photo shared on a GoFundMe taken by his aunt
Angel Chow thanked her for the love and support she and her family had received after Mr. Rivara passed away
The father’s heroic act was captured on camera by 12-year-old William Wimsatt
A spokesman for the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said NBC news the unnamed driver cooperated, and that she was unlikely to be charged with the death.
Ms Chow urged family and friends to keep “wonderful memories of Casey in one beautiful book, where our children can go if they miss him. This book will serve as a lasting tribute to his life and will demonstrate the great influence he had on those around him.”
An introduction to the book describes Mr. Rivara as ‘the best husband, father, son and friend anyone could ask for’. It further urges friends and family to “help us remember Casey, with his kindness, big heart and sense of humour.”
In the aftermath of the heartbreaking incident, Mr. Rivara’s aunt, Tracey Rivara, made a GoFundMe page to raise money for his family.
On the site, which has now raised nearly $63,000, Ms. Rivara wrote in tribute to her cousin, “Casey was the kindest, most wonderful 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 carry on after this huge loss,” she added.
Ms. Rivara described how family man Casey met the love of his life, Angel, in high school when they were just 17, “they quickly fell madly in love and remained inseparable partners for the past 23 years,” she wrote.
The couple shared two children, Sophia and James, now eleven and six, who attended Maria Montessori Charter Academy.
“His family was Casey’s world, and to stay even closer to them, he had recently started working at their children’s school,” his aunt wrote.
“He loved working at school because he was able to positively influence other children.”
Maria Montessori Charter Academy confirmed that Rivera was an employee, but declined to comment further.
Rivara’s last act of kindness was captured by 12-year-old William Wimsatt, the child of another driver.
Happy family: Casey, with ‘love of his life’ wife Angel, and his two children James, six, and Sophia, 11
Casey Rivara is remembered by his heartbroken family as a loving husband and father
Speak to 3KCRA William said, “He got out of the car, he chased the ducks away, and everyone clapped because he was being very nice.”
“He helped them up the curb because the baby ducks were in trouble.”
The Wimsatt family thanked Rivara for his good deed, but moments later a car traveling east on Stanford Ranch Boulevard killed the Good Samaritan.
“All I remember is the sound and then he flew over the intersection,” he added, “his shoes and one of his socks were right in front of our car.”
“He was the only person who got out of the car and tried to help them and probably the nicest person in the whole area. It’s not fair,’ said William.
After the incident, William’s mother got out of her car and comforted the man’s children who were in the man’s parked car, sadly witnessing the collision.
The Wimsatt family has since contributed $1,000 to the family’s GoFundMe page.
Parents and relatives of children from the Maria Montessori Charter Academy they worked for shared their children’s sense of loss.
Samuel Brewer wrote in the community group, “My granddaughter went to the school where he volunteered and said she lost her friend from the lunchroom, that was nice.”
Another Breanna Rybinski commented, “My son came home from school devastated by the news that his friend’s father and someone who regularly helps out at school was hit by a car last night.
“This man, I am told, was loved by all. REST IN PEACE.’
The photos show Rivara, dressed in a burgundy T-shirt, black shorts and sneakers, tenderly leading the ducks to safety.
Another woman, Summer Peterson, said her children also saw the scene.
They said, ‘Oh, it’s so cute. It’s so nice of him.’ And then all of a sudden he got hit by a car,” she said told CBS 13.
Peterson has created a temporary memorial at the crash site, with locals leaving flowers, and her son brought rubber ducks as a tribute to the man’s last act of kindness.
“My son wanted to bring rubber ducks and flowers to this gentleman who lost his life, he was a father.”
Summer Peterson’s son brought flowers and rubber ducks to honor the slain man
Police are still investigating the incident and no arrests have been made yet
Amie Grout, who arrived at the scene moments after the collision, wrote on a nearby Facebook post about the incident: “It was a scene I will never miss. To all the wonderful citizens of Rocklin flying out of their cars to help, men with flared shirts ready to make tourniquets for the victim, to the men and women praying in their cars for this man, my heart is with all of you.”
Another, Dustin Goodshall, said CPR should be administered.
Rocklin police said the 17-year-old female driver remained at the scene after the accident and is cooperating fully with the investigation.
In a statement, the police said: “The driver remained at the scene of the collision.
Emergency services arrived to assist, but the man died at the scene. The Major Accident Investigation Team was activated and came to the scene.
“No arrest has been made and the incident is still under investigation,” they added.
“We would like to express our condolences to all involved in this tragic event.”
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Rocklin Police Department.