A Community in Mourning After Tragic Hornsby Crash
A young shop assistant working just metres from the scene of a fatal collision in Hornsby has described the chilling moment a eight months pregnant woman and her unborn child were struck and killed. The incident occurred last Friday night on George Street, outside the Westfield Hornsby shopping mall on Sydney's north shore.
‘A Terrible Bang’: Witness Recalls the Moment of Impact
Suresha, a 21-year-old employee at the Hornsby Nepalese, Indian and Asian Grocery, was in the last hour of her shift when the peace was shattered. ‘I suddenly heard this terrible bang, so loud,’ she recounted, describing how the sound reverberated up the street, even drowning out the nearby Hornsby Water Clock. ‘They could hear it up past the fountain.’
Rushing outside, Suresha saw a person on the ground directly across from her shop. She then observed the driver of a white car, whom she described as wearing a white t-shirt, open his door and get out. ‘He didn’t run away but stood there,’ she said. Emergency services were on the scene within five to ten minutes, working on the victim for approximately an hour.
The Alleged Sequence of Events and Court Proceedings
The victim was identified as 33-year-old Samanvitha Dhareshwar, who was walking with her husband and their three-year-old son just minutes from their apartment. Police allege the tragedy unfolded when the driver of a Kia Carnival slowed to let the family cross at a train station carpark entrance.
It is alleged that the Kia was then struck from behind by a white BMW driven by 19-year-old P-plater Aaron Papazoglu. This impact allegedly caused the Kia to surge forward, hitting Ms Dhareshwar. She was treated at the scene for catastrophic injuries before being rushed to Westmead Hospital, where she and her unborn baby later died.
Papazoglu was arrested at a home in Wahroonga and has been charged with three offences:
- Dangerous driving occasioning death
- Causing the loss of a foetus
- Additional related driving offences
Appearing in Parramatta Local Court via video link, his lawyer, Patrick Schmidt, stated that Papazoglu had accelerated through an intersection as the traffic light turned amber. He was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, nor was he street racing or running a red light. ‘This wasn't a prolonged, intentional act. This is … a tragic outcome to a series of unfortunate events,’ Mr Schmidt argued during a bail application.
Despite character references and an ‘excellent’ driving record, Magistrate Ray Plibersek denied bail, citing the seriousness of the charges. ‘It's an absolutely tragic case,’ the magistrate said. ‘It's a terrible outcome for two families.’ Papazoglu's case is due to return to court for a mention, with a brief of evidence expected by January 18.
Heartbreaking Tributes and Legal Significance
The crash site became a makeshift memorial, with residents leaving flowers and heartfelt notes. One tribute, from a woman named Laura who had rushed to aid Ms Dhareshwar, read, ‘While we don't know each other, it was a great privilege to be present with you for those moments. I pray for you and your little one that you are held with love as you leave this world.’
The case falls under Zoe's Law, introduced in NSW in 2022, which created specific offences for causing the death of an unborn child through criminal acts. This legislation means offenders face harsher penalties, with the potential for up to three years to be added to the maximum sentence for the underlying offence.
