On the other side of the road stood devastated Central Art Gallery owner Julia Milley who, just minutes before had spent time with the children who she estimates were aged between 3 and 9, introducing them to the ducks, all of whom she had named.
Ms Milley keeps a close eye on the Earnslaw Park ducks - some, including her beloved Matilda, even wander into her gallery for visits.
She said the children had initially been chasing the ducks, so she went over to talk to them, fearing the ducks might be forced on to the road and be run over.
"So, the kids all understood ... and I was telling the kids the names of the ducks — four of those kids [had the same] names as the ducks.
"They were all really excited and they were standing there watching them, and then [the ducks] started following me back across the road."
Ms Milley said there were between six and eight adult ducks in the group, which all decided to rest in the middle of the road.
"You could not miss them."
Other drivers went out of their way to avoid the group, but one "went straight through the middle".
"He didn’t even slow down.
"These poor kids were just standing there, screaming ... crying."
"I was screaming ... [other] people were screaming."
Ms Milley picked up Matilda, who died in her arms, while an injured duck flew away.
"I was absolutely bloody devastated," she said.
She had filed a complaint with police and hoped a prosecution would follow.
