The 87-year-old stopped to try and take the turtle to safety, but ended up being struck by an oncoming vehicle.

A 77-year-old Vermont man was killed on Sunday afternoon while attempting to rescue a turtle on Interstate 95 in Indian River County, Florida, authorities said. The fatal accident occurred around 4:20 p.m. on the southbound lanes of I-95, just north of Sebastian Boulevard, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A tragic scene unfolded Sunday afternoon on a Florida highway when an elderly man trying to save a turtle was struck and killed. According to multiple reports, the unidentified 77-year-old man from Vermont was traveling on I-95 in Indian River County when he spotted a turtle on the highway.