ROCKLIN, Calif. — His family says it's no surprise that Casey Rivara’s final act was one of compassion. When he spotted a mama duck trying to guide her ducklings across a busy California intersection, Rivara stopped his car at a red light and got out to help them make it to safety.

Rivara made sure traffic in all directions was stopped, witnesses said, then escorted the duck and her babies to the other side of the street last Thursday in Rocklin.

“All the ducks made it safely across,” said 11-year-old Jude Peterson, who was watching. “He did something amazing.”

His good deed done, Rivara was walking back to his car when another vehicle came through the intersection and struck him. The 41-year-old father of two died at the scene.

“Casey’s last act in this world was a sign of his compassion,” according to his aunt, Tracey Rivara.

The driver of the car that hit him, a 17-year-old girl, remained at the scene.

“We don’t have any reason to believe there was any criminal negligence,” Capt. Scott Horrillo of rocklin police said Monday. He called it a tragic accident.