Current Events > California man killed while trying to help ducks cross road

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https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/driver-allegedly-kills-man-helping-ducklings-18110119.php

A man died Thursday night after he was struck by a driver while helping a family of ducks cross a roadway, according to witnesses. The crash happened at Stanford Ranch Road and Park Drive just after 8 p.m., police said. The driver, a 17-year-old girl, stayed at the scene and was cooperating, police said. KCRA 3's Michelle Bandur spoke to a 12-year-old witness, with his mother's permission, who said the man had stepped out of a vehicle to help a family of ducks out of the path of traffic. "He got out of the car and was shooing the ducks and everyone was clapping because he was being really nice," said William. William snapped pictures of the rescue with his cell phone as the man and ducks walked in front of their car. He said no one moved through the intersection, even staying through green lights. "He helped them get up over the curb because all the little baby duckies were having trouble and then he walked in front of our car," said William. After the ducks were saved, William and others in the area applauded the man's actions. "My mom rolled down the window and said, 'Good job, good job,' and I said, 'Good job' to him too and then right after that, the second after that," he said the car hit him. William said the car seemed to come out of nowhere. "I didn't see the car actually hit him. All I remember is the sound and then him flying across the intersection," he said. "His shoes and one of his socks were right in front of our car."

William says fortunately his little sister was in the backseat focusing on the ducks. They stayed home from school Friday with their mom, all of them still upset from the traumatic turn of events. His mother even comforted the man's children who were in his car and asking for their father. William wants people to remember the kind man who saved the ducks before he died. He said he didn't deserve this. "He was the only person to get out of the car and try and help them and probably the nicest person in the entire area. It's not fair," he said. Another 12-year-old also witnessed the tragedy. He returned to the intersection with flowers and several rubber ducks. "You should honor him because he was being really kind and then something horrible happened to him," said Jude. "He was an amazing person." Police are still investigating the cause of the fatality. The driver has not been ticketed or arrested.

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BlueTigerLion posted...

The driver has not been ticketed or arrested.

Oh boy, this will be good.

What a terrible thing to happen to someone this kind.

So she got annoyed at waiting and just sped oit of line and thru the intersection? Im so confused. Idgaf about the ducks, what happened with this driver?

Hopefully the driver is sued to oblivion

Irony posted...

Hopefully the driver is sued to oblivion

She is 17...what's the point of suing someone for money when that person will be judgment proof?

They could go after her parents, but that's a whole different can of worms.

alfred_ashford posted...

So she got annoyed at waiting and just sped oit of line and thru the intersection? Im so confused. Idgaf about the ducks, what happened with this driver?

the witness they talked to said the car seemed to come out of nowhere, so it sounds like it was someone just blowing through the intersection and not paying attention

alfred_ashford posted...

what happened with this driver?

Apparently, so far nothing. Article says she hasn't even been given a ticket, let alone arrested.

ultimate_reaver posted...

the witness they talked to said the car seemed to come out of nowhere, so it sounds like it was someone just blowing through the intersection and not paying attention

Seventeen-year-old girl, so probably a combination of inexperience and being distracted by a phone.

Jeeze, is this for real?

Imagine paying the ultimate price for such kindness.

Christ is that a depressing thing.

EthanSilver posted...

Imagine paying the ultimate price for such kindness.

God's all "okay, you get into heaven now, right now."

A lot of assuming things in this topic.

Is there even an aerial image of the intersection?

Questionmarktarius posted...

God's all "okay, you get into heaven now, right now."

Okay... now this is doubly upsetting, as this made me laugh.

Is it a "dark humour" thing, coping, or am I bad person? =/

Imagine being a family member and hearing of this?

Damn this is like 20 minutes from me

Questionmarktarius posted...

Seventeen-year-old girl, so probably a combination of inexperience and being distracted by a phone.

We just making generalizations on the latter point huh

orcus_snake posted...

What a terrible thing to happen to someone this kind.

The most absolute proof that there is no god in this reality.

TaylorHeinicke posted...

We just making generalizations on the latter point huh

Yes we are.

ultimate_reaver posted...

the witness they talked to said the car seemed to come out of nowhere, so it sounds like it was someone just blowing through the intersection and not paying attention

Was this one of the 12 year old witnesses?

oh, is that the actual picture of the man and the ducks? terrible

This is so fucking sad. And really acts as a reminder that one moment you can be doing something that you think is harmless (everyone seeming to stop for the ducks and let you escort them), and the next minute that can change drastically and your life can end.

Really crazy.

Something similar to this happened in Vancouver a few years back.

Woman had pulled to the side of a highway to help some ducks cross the road, and a father and daughter hit the parked car and were killed. Woman ended up getting charged with manslaughter since she didnt have her hazard lights on.

That's enough internet for today

why are they just interviewing a bunch of 12 year olds about this?????

GranTurismo posted...

oh, is that the actual picture of the man and the ducks?

it does look like it yes :(.

EthanSilver posted...

Imagine paying the ultimate price for such kindness.

Questionmarktarius posted...

God's all "okay, you get into heaven now, right now."

Of all the monotheistic religions, only Islam believes in getting to heaven through good deeds.

Jagr_68 posted...

The most absolute proof that there is no god in this reality.

I mean if you do believe in the Christian god this is already explained away by God wanting to create beings with free will. A Christian would tell you the girl used her free will to speed through the intersection, just as the man chose to help the ducks across the road.

Cant she be charged with vehicular manslaughter?

deoxxys posted...

Cant she be charged with vehicular manslaughter?

I mean it sounds like it was just a tragic accident. From the reports it doesnt seem like she necessarily should be charged.

Bleuets posted...

I mean it sounds like it was just a tragic accident. From the reports it doesnt seem like she necessarily should be charged.

Killing somebody by accident is still a crime. That's why "involuntary manslaughter" is a thing.

Red_XIV posted...

Killing somebody by accident is still a crime. That's why "involuntary manslaughter" is a thing.

I mean if the guy was in the street and she didnt see him and the lights were green shes not going to be charged.

Red_XIV posted...

Killing somebody by accident is still a crime. That's why "involuntary manslaughter" is a thing.

That's not what that means and it's silly of you to not look it up before posting.

Bleuets posted...

I mean if the guy was in the street and she didnt see him and the lights were green shes not going to be charged.

That's the issue though.

Why didn't she see him?

BurmesePenguin posted...

That's not what that means and it's silly of you to not look it up before posting.

Involuntary manslaughter usually refers to an unintentional killing that results from criminal negligence or recklessness, or from dangerous or impaired driving. It differs from voluntary manslaughter primarily because the victim's death is unintended.

i don't see how this doesn't match up?

Every other person on that road was aware something was happening in the street, and was slowing down. She clearly was not paying attention and didn't notice the events going on and sped on through

Simply killing someone unintentionally is not involuntary manslaughter. The requirements are listed in the thing you just quoted. You cannot based on current knowledge say the driver was negligent, reckless, or impaired.

I thought it could be reckless but maybe you're right

Zikten posted...

Every other person on that road was aware something was happening in the street, and was slowing down. She clearly was not paying attention and didn't notice the events going on and sped on through

Slowing down?
I thought they stood still?

I mean as good a deed as it is, you're putting your life in the hands of strangers when you step onto the road as a pedestrian in this way (moreso than crossing when it's a bit safer with a redlight)

My point being you'd have to trust that every driver would be paying full attention to ever risk doing this which is playing with fire

I wonder who she knows

Was the light indeed green? If so I can't imagine anything happening to her. Honestly I feel terrible for her, not as much as his family, but still.

Doesnt matter if the light is green. Its still reckless to not have your eyes on the road. Other drivers had no problem stopping.

radical_rhino posted...

Doesnt matter if the light is green. Its still reckless to not have your eyes on the road. Other drivers had no problem stopping.

If she was using her phone then yes. But everyone has moments taking eyes off the road for a second or two while driving, especially when they think they have the right of way and stuff. People unconsciously glance at a building or something all the time. You're not checking for hazards 100% of the time

An awful way to go.

Stupid fucking girl ruining a lovely moment

isnt it interesting how people could read this and their first (and seemingly only) thought is "*slurp* how can we make so that this kid who hit the guy was buried in her phone or stoned and/or drunk as hell???"