By Jack Peat
A father has tragically been killed after rescuing a mother duck and her babies.
The dad got out of his car in California when he noticed the animals struggling. He saved them and helped them get to the other side of the road, but tragedy struck moments after his act of kindness.
He ushered them across a busy intersection in California, USA, making sure they got to safety on the other side.
But the heroic moment ended in tragedy after he was struck by a car and died at the scene, all while his own children helplessly sat in his car waiting for him to come back.
The driver of the car who ran down the father was a 17-year-old girl, the police have said, who immediately stopped and is cooperating with the investigation into the collision.
Several families and other children also witnessed the horrifying incident at Stanford Ranch Road and Park Drive on Thursday night.
Rocklin Police Department confirmed it is investigating a single-car accident that killed a man at approximately 8.15 pm local time on May 18 after he’d parked his vehicle at the intersection.
A spokesman said: “The man was reportedly trying to help some ducklings that were in the intersection.
“As the man was in the intersection, a teenage driver was headed eastbound on Stanford Ranch Boulevard. This juvenile driver struck the pedestrian who was in the roadway.
“The driver remained at the scene of the collision. Emergency first responders arrived to assist, however, the man died at the scene.
“No arrest was made, and the incident is still under investigation. We would like to extend our condolences to all involved in this tragic event.”