A tragic road accident killed a 37-year-old transport driver while she was unloading special-needs passengers from her van Wednesday, police say.

The victim's own vehicle rolled over her at Carpenter Avenue and East 229th Street -- crushing her head and upper body under a wheel. Police initially described the accident as a hit-and-run, but after an investigation they said the van had been switched out of gear and rolled over the victim.

Police say she walked around to the driver side of the vehicle to reposition it. She placed it in reverse and fell out, became trapped under the front wheel and was crushed.

She was taken to Montefiore Medical Center with severe trauma and pronounced dead.

The victim, Irene Espinal-Jiminian, worked for the Institutes of Applied Human Dynamics. She was a mother of two.

"We are very saddened to learn of the death of a cherished member of the IAHD family," said Brenda Rodriguez, a company spokesperson. "This is a terrible tragedy, and our heartfelt condolences go out to Ms. Espinal's family."