The wife of the man tragically killed while assisting a family of ducks to cross the road has expressed her deep gratitude for the overwhelming response and outpouring of love her family has received.
Casey Rivara, aged 41, lost his life in a devastating accident when he was struck by a vehicle at an intersection in Rocklin, California, on Friday, May 19.
Eyewitnesses reported that just moments before the accident, Rivara had been helping a mother duck and her ducklings navigate the busy road.
Tragically, as he was returning to his car where his 11-year-old and 6-year-old children patiently waited, he was struck by a 17-year-old driver and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
According to a statement from the Rocklin Police Department, “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.”
At present, no arrests have been made, but the 17-year-old driver is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. In response to this tragic event, Rivara’s aunt Tracey established a GoFundMe campaign to support the family. Describing Casey as the “kindest man,” the campaign has already exceeded its initial $30,000 goal, amassing over $116,000 in donations, at the time of writing.
Angel Chow, the widow of Casey Rivara, expressed her overwhelming appreciation for the outpouring of support her family has received following her husband’s untimely death. In a heartfelt statement, she conveyed her gratitude for the kind messages and gestures of kindness, emphasizing the profound impact Casey had on the lives of others.
“We have been deeply touched by the overwhelming love and support we’ve received for Casey Rivara and our family in these past few days,” said Chow. “We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you for the kind messages and gestures of kindness. It’s truly humbling to hear how Casey has positively impacted your lives, and we’re extremely grateful for that.”
In the description of the GoFundMe campaign, Rivara’s aunt shared the beautiful love story between Casey and Angel. They met when he was 17, and she was an exchange student from Hong Kong attending his high school. They quickly fell deeply in love and remained inseparable for the past 23 years. Together, they were blessed with two wonderful children, Sophia (11) and James (6).
Casey’s family meant the world to him, and he had recently started working at his children’s school to be even closer to them.
His aunt described him as the kindest and most amazing husband and father. Even in his final moments, his compassionate nature shone through.
The family is now trying to navigate the immense loss and find a way to move forward. In lieu of flowers and other acts of kindness, contributions to the GoFundMe campaign are encouraged as a means to express love and support for Angel and her family during this difficult time.
RIP to a hero.
