New York: A paramedic was killed after a man hijacked her ambulance in New York City and reversed over her, city officials said on Friday. Police have arrested a suspect on murder charges.

Yadiro Arroyo, 44, and her female partner were travelling in their ambulance in the Bronx when a passing motorist alerted them to a man riding at the back of their vehicle, city officials said.

Killed: Yadira Arroyo died after she was run over by her own ambulance. Credit:AP

They stopped and got out of the ambulance to investigate. The man then climbed into the driver's seat and put the ambulance in reverse, striking both paramedics and knocking Arroyo to the ground before driving backwards over her, according to the New York police and fire officials.

The man kept driving backwards, striking at least three other vehicles, before driving forward again, dragging the fallen paramedic into the middle of the road and striking two more vehicles before getting stuck in a snowbank.