Newsday – March 19, 2017
by Newsday
The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation has donated $100,000 to the family of a New York City emergency medical technician who was struck and killed Thursday by her stolen ambulance.
The nonprofit announced the donation Saturday morning and appealed for additional contributions on behalf of the family of Yadira Arroyo, 44.
“The foundation encourages all to support our effort to give the children the life their loving mother envisioned for them,” the organization said on its website.
A Bronx man was arrested and charged with murder in Arroyo’s death.
Police said Jose Gonzalez, 25, was seen riding on the back of the ambulance Thursday night. When Arroyo and her partner got out to investigate, Gonzalez carjacked the ambulance, police said.
As Arroyo tried to pull him out of the driver’s seat, he put the ambulance in reverse, striking her, and then drove forward, crashing into three cars and a snowbank, police said.
Arroyo was taken to Jacobi Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was formed to support emergency responders’ families after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.
Donations on behalf of Arroyo can be made at tunnel2towers.org or at Crowdrise.com/arroyo.
Visiting for Arroyo is scheduled for Thursday and Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Joseph A. Lucchese Funeral Home in the Bronx, 726 Morris Park Ave.
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The funeral Mass will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Roman Catholic Church in the Bronx, 2345 University Ave.
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