A tragic early morning incident in Hillcrest has left a local man dead and Ramapo Police investigating whether foul play preceded the fatal collision.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 3, 2025, a Ramapo Police officer was flagged down near 64 East Eckerson Road by several individuals seeking help. Around the same time, the department’s Emergency Communications Division received a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle at that same location.
Responding to the call, the officer discovered a 45-year-old male resident of Spring Valley pinned beneath a 2014 red Toyota Prius in the parking lot. The victim was conscious, breathing, and semi-responsive, but appeared seriously injured. Emergency medical personnel from Spring Hill Ambulance and Rockland Paramedics rushed to the scene.
A Chaverim of Rockland volunteer—identified by Monsey Scoop as Spring Valley Trustee Yisroel Eisenbach—provided a car jack, which was used to lift the vehicle and extract the victim. He was treated at the scene and transported to Nyack Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Chevra Kadisha services were not required in this tragic incident. The man’s identity is being withheld pending notification of his next of kin.
The Hillcrest Fire Department also responded to assist at the scene.
The driver of the Prius, a 32-year-old female Spring Valley resident working as a taxi driver, remained on scene and cooperated with police. Authorities confirmed she was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, she was arrested for operating with a suspended license and released with a court date in the Town of Ramapo. Investigators believe she had just dropped off a fare and was exiting the parking lot when she struck the victim, who was lying on the ground.
Eyewitnesses told police that the victim may have been assaulted prior to the crash. However, investigators do not believe the taxi driver was involved in any possible altercation.
Due to the suspicious circumstances, the Ramapo Police Department’s Detective Bureau and Crash Investigation Unit have launched a joint investigation.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Ramapo Police Department at (845) 357-2400.
