Police say an emergency medical technician in New York City died Thursday after a man she was assisting jumped into her ambulance, put it in reverse and ran her over, according to The New York Times.
Authorities say 44-year-old Yadira Arroyo and her partner were flagged down Thursday evening and told someone was riding on the back bumper of their ambulance. Ms. Arroyo, who was driving, pulled over and exited the vehicle. When she walked around to the back of the ambulance, Ms. Arroyo encountered 25-year-old Jose Gonzalez, who had jumped on the back of the ambulance after police say he stole a backpack from a teenager while pretending to be a police officer, according to The New York Times.
According to authorities, Mr. Gonzalez, a member of the Bloods gang, told Ms. Arroyo he had hurt his had and needed medical assistance. When Ms. Arroyo told him to return the backpack to the teenager, police say Mr. Gonzalez ran and got into the driver's seat of the ambulance. Ms. Arroyo tried to pull Mr. Gonzalez out of the vehicle, and her partner fought him from the passenger seat. However, authorities say Mr. Gonzalez managed to put the ambulance into reverse and ran over Ms. Arroyo before driving forward, dragging her into the intersection, according to the report.
Shortly after striking Ms. Arroyo with the ambulance, police say Mr. Gonzalez crashed the ambulance into another vehicle and a police officer and bystanders immediately subdued him, according New York Live.
Mr. Gonzalez, who had 31 previous arrests, was charged with murder on Friday.
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