Maryland doctor dies after being hit with his own vehicle

A Maryland physician died on Tuesday after a thief allegedly stole his vehicle and ran him over with it as he tried to get it back.

Dr. Rakesh Patel, 33, a physician at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, had left his vehicle running while he was looking for a belonging he forgot at his girlfriend's house. The thief got into the vehicle, and when the physician attempted to retrieve it, he was run over, Fox News reported.

Kristine Freoba, a friend of Patel’s girlfriend, revealed to the media outlet that the couple was saying goodbye when they noticed that Patel's Mercedes was moving forward with an unknown individual inside.

Police believe that after Patel was hit by his vehicle, the suspect struck a second person at an intersection, the media outlet reported. The thief fled and has not yet been apprehended.

Emergency Medical Services arrived on the scene and attempted to administer aid to Patel before he was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead, NBC Washington reports.

"We are heartbroken to learn of the sudden passing of Dr. Rakesh (Rick) Patel," MedStar Washington Hospital Center said in a statement. "He was the victim of a robbery and hit-and-run in the District, according to Metro Police. Dr. Patel was one of our colleagues in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at MedStar Washington Hospital Center."

"After completing his internal medicine residency at MedStar Washington, he stayed with us to complete his infectious disease fellowship and was currently training as an intensive care fellow. He will be greatly missed by those whose lives he touched. Please keep Dr. Patel's family and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers during the coming days," the hospital added.