A pregnant Indian woman, just weeks away from delivering her second child, was killed in a violent car crash in Sydney, after a speeding BMW triggered a collision that pushed another vehicle into her path.
According to a report by The Tribune, Samanvitha Dhareshwar, 33, was eight months pregnant and out for an evening walk with her husband and three-year-old son last Friday when the crash occurred on George Street in Hornsby around 8 pm.
Police said a Kia Carnival had slowed down to let the family cross when a BMW, allegedly travelling at high speed, slammed into its rear. The impact forced the Kia forward, striking Dhareshwar as she walked across the entrance to a nearby car park, as reported by The Tribune.
She suffered critical injuries and was taken to Westmead Hospital, where doctors were unable to save her or her unborn baby.
The BMW driver was identified as 19-year-old P-plater Aaron Papazoglu. He and the Kia driver were not injured. Police have not confirmed whether Dhareshwar’s husband or young child sustained injuries, The Tribune reported.
Dhareshwar worked as a test analyst at Alsco Uniforms and was an experienced IT systems analyst, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Papazoglu was later arrested at his Wahroonga home and charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning death, and causing the loss of a foetus. A magistrate refused him bail due to the seriousness of the charges, reported The Tribune.
The case will proceed under Zoe’s Law, legislation introduced in New South Wales in 2022 that allows for tougher penalties when an unborn child is killed as a result of criminal behaviour. If convicted, Papazoglu could face up to three additional years behind bars, The Tribune reported.