Family honors slain EMT during Christmas toy giveaway at Bronx hospital

The Arroyo family was joined by members of the FDNY and Emergency Medical Services at Saint Barnabas Hospital Wednesday where they went from room to room bearing Christmas gifts in honor of Yadira Arroyo.

News 12 Staff

Dec 25, 2019, 6:39 PM

Updated 1,766 days ago

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The Arroyo family was joined by members of the FDNY and Emergency Medical Services at Saint Barnabas Hospital Wednesday where they went from room to room bearing Christmas gifts in honor of Yadira Arroyo.
News 12 reported that the 44-year-old EMT died in March 2017 after Jose Gonzalez stole Arroyo's ambulance and ran her over while he was high on drugs. He was charged with murder, manslaughter and robbery.
The family says they are participating in the charitable activity because of Arroyo's love for children.
Arroyo's aunt says when the family held another toy giveaway last year at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, they never thought it would give them so much joy. Arroyo's colleagues say they learned a good deed while riding in the ambulance with her.
Arroyo was the mother of five children. Her family says she was an avid volunteer at her local soup kitchen.
The event was done in conjunction with Arroyo's birthday on Dec. 22. She would have been 47 years old.