Trial of man accused of running over, killing FDNY EMT begins

Nearly six years after EMT Yadira Arroyo was killed, the man who allegedly ran her down with her own rig will stand trial

February 08, 2023 11:05 AM

In this photo provided by the New York City Mayor鈥檚 Office, pallbearer from the New York City Fire Department carry the casket of fallen FDNY EMT Yadira Arroyo into St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church in the Bronx borough of New York, Saturday, March 25, 2017.

By Rachel Engel

NEW YORK 鈥� The trial of the man charged with the 2017 killing of FDNY EMT Yadira Arroyo will begin Wednesday, nearly six years after the incident, .

Jose Gonzalez was originally declared unfit to stand trial after pleading guilty during his initial arraignment. However, in 2022, officials 鈥渄etermined him to be no longer an incapacitated person,鈥� allowing prosecutors to move forward with the case.

In 2017, Arroyo, 44, and her partner were inside their ambulance when they were alerted someone was on rig鈥檚 bumper. When the partners exited the vehicle to check, Gonzalez allegedly climbed behind the wheel and backed up, hitting Arroyo, then drove forward, dragging her with the ambulance.

She was later pronounced dead.