A California widow of two killed by a teenage driver while carrying a family of ducklings across a busy road says she has been deeply touched by the overwhelming love and support her family has received since her husband’s death.
Casey Rivera, a 41-year-old father of two, parked his car on the side of the road to pick up a mother duck and her ducklings at the intersection of Park Drive and Stanford Ranch Boulevard in Rocklin, California. Friday evening.
He was struck and killed by a 17-year-old female driver and her helpless children Sophia and James, aged eleven and six, watched from the family car.
In a statement, his widow Angel Chow said: ‘We have been deeply touched by the overwhelming love and support we have received for Casey Rivera and our family over the past few days.
‘We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all of you for the kind messages and gestures of kindness.
‘It’s truly humbling to hear how Casey has had such a positive impact on your life and we’re so grateful.’
Casey Rivera, 41, struck and killed a 17-year-old female driver while launching a family of ducks across an intersection in Rocklin, California. A photo shared on GoFundMe by his aunt shows him with his wife Angel Chow and two children Sophia, 11, and James, six.
Angel Chao shared her thanks to Mr. Rivera for the love and support she received after his death
Father’s heroic act caught on camera by 12-year-old William Wimsatt
A spokesman for the Placer County Sheriff’s Office told NBC News that the driver, who did not want to be named, was cooperating, and it is unlikely that he will be charged in the death.
Mrs Chow urged family and friends to ‘share wonderful memories of Cassie in a beautiful book, which our children can turn to whenever they miss her. This book will serve as a lasting tribute to his life, demonstrating the profound impact he had on those around him’.
An introduction to the book describes Mr Rivera as ‘the best husband, father, son and friend anyone could ever wish for’. It asks friends and family to ‘help remember Case, with his kindness, big heart, and sense of humor’.
Following the heartbreaking incident, Mr Rivera’s aunt Tracy Rivera set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for his family.
Writing on the site, which has now raised almost $63,000, Ms Rivera paid tribute to her nephew, writing: ‘Casey was the kindest, most amazing husband and father. Even his last act on earth was a sign of his mercy.
He added, ‘The family is trying to figure out how to recover and carry on after this huge loss’.
Ms Rivera described how family man Cassie met the love of her life, Angel, in high school when they were just 17, ‘they fell in love quickly and have been inseparable partners for the past 23 years’ she wrote.
The couple share two children, Sophia and James, now eleven and six, who attend Maria Montessori Charter Academy.
‘His family was Casey’s world, and he recently started working at their children’s school to be closer to them,’ his aunt wrote.
‘He loved working at the school because he was able to make a positive impact on other children.’
Maria Montessori Charter Academy confirmed Rivera was an employee but declined to comment further.
Rivera’s final act of kindness was captured by 12-year-old William Wimsatt, the son of another driver.
Happy family: Casey, ‘love of his life’ wife Angel and his two children James, six, and Sophia, 11
Casey Rivera is remembered by his heartbroken family as a loving husband and father
Speaking to 3KCRA, William said: ‘She got out of the car, she was ducking, everybody was clapping because she was really beautiful.’
‘He helped them get over the hurdle because the ducklings were having trouble.’
The Wimsatt family thanked Rivera for his good deed, but moments later a car eastbound on Stanford Ranch Boulevard struck and killed the good Samaritan.
‘All I remember is the sound and then him flying across the intersection,’ she added, ‘his shoe and one of his socks was right in front of our car.’
‘He was the only person who got out of the car and tried to help them and was probably the nicest person in the whole area. It’s not right,’ said William.
After the incident William’s mother got out of her car and comforted the man’s children who were sitting in the man’s parked car and unfortunately witnessed the collision.
The Wimsatt family has since contributed $1000 to the family’s GoFundMe page.
Parents and relatives of children who worked for Maria Montessori Charter Academy shared their feelings of loss for their children.
Samuel Brewer wrote in the community group: ‘My granddaughter went to the school she was volunteering at and said she lost her friend in the lunch room which was wonderful.’
Another Breanna Rybinski commented: ‘My son came home from school devastated by the news that his friend’s father and someone he used to help with at school had been hit by a car last night.
‘From what I was told this man was loved by all. RIP.’
In the pictures, Rivera is seen in a burgundy T-shirt, black shorts and trainers gently leading the ducks to safety.
Another woman, Summer Peterson, said her children also watched the scene unfold.
‘They were saying, ‘Oh, it’s so beautiful. It’s so beautiful of her.’ And then all of a sudden he got hit by a car,’ he told CBS 13.
Peterson erected a makeshift memorial at the crash site, locals laid flowers and his son brought rubber ducks to pay tribute to the man’s last act of kindness.
The collision occurred at the intersection of Park Drive and Stanford Ranch Boulevard in Rocklin, California.
Summer Peterson’s son brought flowers and rubber ducks to honor the victim
Police are still investigating the incident and have yet to make any arrests
‘My son wanted to bring rubber ducks and flowers to this gentleman who lost his life, father.’
Amy Grout, who arrived at the scene at the moment of the collision, wrote in a neighbor Facebook post about the incident: ‘It was a sight I will never see again. To all the amazing Rocklin residents flying out of their cars to help, the men in shirts making tourniquets for the victim, the men and women in their cars for this man, my heart goes out to 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 crash and is cooperating fully with the investigation.
In a statement, the police department said: ‘The driver remained at the scene of the collision.
‘Emergency first responders arrived to assist, but the man died at the scene. The Major Accident Investigation Team was activated and responded to the area.
“No arrests have been made, and the incident remains under investigation,” they added.
‘We would like to extend our condolences to all those involved in this tragic incident.’
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Rocklin Police Department.
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