9 Year Old Boy Gets Killed While Rescuing Injured Duck…
Danny Bampton’s compassion for animals cost him his life.
Investigators say the 9-year-old St. Charles County boy was riding with his
mother on Highway P near a relative’s house Wednesday afternoon when he saw an injured duck in the road and asked her whether he could save it. After she pulled the car over, Danny hopped out and put the duck in a roadside culvert on the south side of the highway.
But when he tried to cross back over the rural, two-lane road to his family’s
car, Danny was struck by a westbound Subaru Legacy driven by Alayna R. Hitz, 18, of Wentzville.
He died at the scene about 1 p.m. near Stonebriar Estates Court between St.
Paul and Josephville.
Authorities said Hitz’s view of Danny may have been blocked. As Danny was
crossing the road, he was obscured behind an oncoming passing car.
Investigators said the crash was accidental, speed was not a factor and
criminal charges are not likely to be filed.
“There’s absolutely nothing suspicious about it,” said Sgt. Ryan Burckhardt of
the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Danny was scheduled to start the fourth grade Monday at the St. Joseph School in Josephville.
The principal, Dwight Elmore, described Danny as a respectful, good-natured kid who was well-known by all the school’s staff and 123 students. “Danny’s an
all-around boy,” Elmore said. “Always had a smile on his face. Really, just a
wholesome kid.”
Danny loved hunting with his family but also had compassion for wildlife, said
his pastor, the Rev. Larry Huber. Danny would routinely pick up frogs, snakes
and birds and show them to people.
“He was just drawn towards animals,” Huber said. “All animals.”
Elmore said the Bamptons are a tight family who have been heavily involved at St. Joseph Parish for generations. He said the Bamptons and their extended
relatives make up at least a third of the church’s parishioners. “This is going
to put a huge void in a lot of folks’ lives,” Elmore said.
Danny was the second-youngest of six brothers and sisters.
The Bampton family declined to comment. St. Joseph will hold a Mass at 8 a.m.
today to honor Danny’s memory. Funeral arrangements were pending.