Tragic Family Outing Ends in Double Fatality
A pregnant mother, just weeks away from giving birth, has been identified as the victim of a horrific crash in Sydney's north. Samanvitha Dhareshwar, 33, who was eight months pregnant, was walking with her husband and their three-year-old son along George Street in Hornsby on Friday evening when the incident occurred.
How the Crash Unfolded
According to police allegations, the family was crossing the road near Hornsby train station around 8pm when a Kia Carnival slowed to let them pass. At that moment, a white BMW driven by 19-year-old P-plater Aaron Papazoglu allegedly struck the Kia from behind. The impact caused the Kia to surge forward, striking Ms Dhareshwar.
Emergency services treated Ms Dhareshwar at the scene for what were described as catastrophic injuries before rushing her to Westmead Hospital. Tragically, both she and her unborn child could not be saved.
Legal Proceedings and Community Mourning
Papazoglu was later arrested at a home in the nearby suburb of Wahroonga. He 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 on Sunday via video link, Papazoglu's lawyer, Patrick Schmidt, stated his client had an excellent driving record with no previous offences. Mr Schmidt told the court that Papazoglu had accelerated through an intersection as the traffic light turned amber and had expected the Kia to have completed its turn.
"This wasn't a prolonged, intentional act. This is … a tragic outcome to a series of unfortunate events," Mr Schmidt said during the bail application.
Despite character references from his family and employer, Magistrate Ray Plibersek refused bail, citing the seriousness of the charges. "It's an absolutely tragic case," Mr Plibersek noted. "It's a terrible outcome for two families … the community's heart goes out to (the victim's) family for the tragic loss."
The case will return to court on Tuesday for a mention, with a brief of evidence due by January 18.
Heartbreaking Tributes and Witness Account
The local community has been left reeling by the tragedy. Tributes have been building at the crash scene, including a poignant letter from a woman named Laura who witnessed the aftermath.
"While we don't know each other, it was a great privilege to be present with you for those moments," she wrote in a card addressed to 'Dear Mum + Bub + family'. "I pray for you and your little one that you are held with love as you leave this world."
The crash has highlighted the impact of Zoe's Law, introduced in New South Wales in 2022, which created specific offences for causing the loss of an unborn child through criminal acts. Under this law, offenders face harsher penalties when a foetus of at least 20 weeks or 400 grams dies due to dangerous driving.
Police continue their investigations into the crash and urge anyone with information to contact Hornsby Police or Crime Stoppers.
