VOIWORLD/Sydney
A tragic car crash in Sydney has claimed the life of a 33-year-old pregnant Indian woman, just weeks before she was due to give birth to her second child.
The victim, Samanvitha Dhareshwar, was out on an evening walk with her husband and three-year-old son along George Street in Hornsby on Friday around 8 pm when the accident occurred. According to police, a Kia Carnival had slowed down to let the family cross a footpath when a speeding BMW rammed into it from behind. The force of the collision pushed the Kia forward, striking Dhareshwar as she passed a car park entrance.
She suffered catastrophic injuries and was rushed to Westmead Hospital. Despite medical efforts, both she and her unborn child could not be saved.
Police identified the BMW driver as 19-year-old Aaron Papazoglu, who was on a provisional licence. He and the Kia driver escaped unhurt. Officers later arrested Papazoglu at his home in Wahroonga.
He has been charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning death, and causing the loss of a foetus. A magistrate denied him bail, citing the gravity of the offences.
Authorities said the case is likely to be tried under Zoe’s Law, a New South Wales legislation introduced in 2022 that allows tougher penalties when an unborn child is killed in a crash. Convicted offenders can face up to three additional years in prison on top of the main sentence.
Dhareshwar, an IT systems analyst by profession, was working as a test analyst with Alsco uniforms. It remains unclear whether her husband or child sustained injuries in the incident.
