RAMAPO, NY — A 45-year-old Spring Valley man has died after being struck and pinned beneath a vehicle in a parking lot at 64 East Eckerson Road, prompting a joint investigation by the Ramapo Police Department’s Detective Bureau and Crash Investigation Unit.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, when a Ramapo Police Officer was flagged down by multiple individuals seeking help. At the same time, the department’s Emergency Communications Division received a 911 call reporting a pedestrian struck by a vehicle.

Upon arriving at the scene, the officer discovered the male victim trapped underneath a 2014 red Toyota Prius in the parking lot. The man was breathing, conscious, and semi-responsive, but appeared to be seriously injured. Bystanders on scene used a car jack to lift the vehicle, allowing emergency responders from Spring Hill Ambulance and Rockland Paramedics to extract and treat the man.

Despite efforts to save him, the victim was later pronounced dead at Nyack Hospital. His identity is being withheld pending proper notification of next of kin.

The Hillcrest Fire Department also responded to assist at the scene.

The operator of the Toyota Prius, identified as a 32-year-old female taxi driver from Spring Valley, remained on scene and is fully cooperating with authorities. Investigators determined she was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash. However, she was arrested for operating a vehicle with a suspended license and released with a future court date in Town of Ramapo Court.

According to the Ramapo PD, the taxi driver had just dropped off a fare and was leaving the location when she unintentionally struck the male, who may have already been lying in the parking lot. Witness accounts suggest the man could have been the victim of an assault prior to the collision. At this time, investigators believe the taxi driver was not involved in any potential assault.

Given the complex nature of the incident, a full investigation is underway by the Ramapo Police Department to determine the circumstances surrounding both the collision and the events leading up to it.