Casey Rivara, 41, saw a family of ducks trying to cross in Rocklin, about 40 kilometers northeast of Sacramento, according to a statement from the city police.
Rivara got out of her vehicle and was run over by a vehicle driven by a young driver.
“The man was reportedly trying to help some ducklings at the intersection. At the intersection, a young driver was driving east on Stanford Ranch Avenue. This young driver crashed into a pedestrian in the road,” the Rocklin Police Department said in a statement.
A witness named Summer Peterson told a local CBS News outlet that her children witnessed the crash, which occurred around 8:15 p.m. local time on Thursday night.
People left bouquets of flowers and rubber ducks at the crash site.
The Rocklin Police Department said no arrests were made and the incident is still under investigation.
Rocklin Police Captain Scott Horrillo told NBC News that the young driver is unlikely to face criminal charges.