FDNY EMT Yadira Arroyo Killed As Man Steals Ambulance, Runs Down The Mother Of Five
Hero FDNY EMT Yadira Arroyo was killed when her ambulance was stolen on Thursday.
FDNY Hero Yadira Arroyo Killed
The Bronx, New York – FDNY EMT Yadira Arroyo, 44, was killed after a man stole her ambulance and ran her over. The incident was captured on cell phone video by a nearby witness.
On Thursday night at around 7:10 PM, FDNY EMTs were responding to a call involving a pregnant woman when they realized that somebody was riding on their back bumper, according to NY Post.
The FDNY crew stopped as they were flagged down and told about the man on the bumper. Once the ambulance stopped, Jose Gonzalez, 25, jumped off of the bumper and tried to steal a backpack from a man nearby.
The EMTs exited the ambulance to try to help, and then Gonzalez ran by EMT Yadira Arroyo and got into the driver’s seat. Gonzalez then throttled backwards, running down Arroyo, dragging her 15 feet and running her over.
The ambulance then backed into a green taxi before shooting forward, slamming into a parked car, and getting stuck.
MTA Officer Daniel McCabe was in the area and he tackled Jose Gonzalez, taking him into custody with the assistance of good Samaritans.
Jose Gonzalez was arrested on charges of murder, grand larceny, and DWI.
EMT Monique Williams could be heard screaming in horror as she started to kick at the killer until she was restrained by police.
New York Daily News reports, “She was screaming, ‘my partner, my partner!’ She was screaming hysterically. I can’t forget her screaming,” a witness said said. “All the police came running and they put her in an ambulance.”
Mayor de Blasio responded to the hospital where Yadira Arroyo was pronounced dead. He said that Arroyo was “lost in the line of duty, bravely doing her job, encountering the kind of danger our EMTs should not have to confront.”
Gov. Cuomo tweeted, “EMTs are heroes who help countless New Yorkers every day. Tonight’s tragedy in the Bronx is horrible. My deepest sympathies to the family.”
Yadira Arroyo was a 14-year veteran of FDNY, and a mother of five.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Yadira Arroyo’s family and FDNY.
We are only showing a heavily edited version of the incident video out of respect for Arroyo’s family. You can see the incident unfold below:
Support Yadira Arroyo and here family HERE.
