A pregnant mother who was allegedly killed by a P-plate driver just weeks before she was due to welcome her child was in the process of building her dream home with her husband.
Samanvitha Dhareshwar, 33, who was eight months pregnant, was walking with her husband and three-year-old son along George Street at Hornsby, on Sydney‘s north shore, when she was allegedly struck about 8pm on Friday.
Police allege the driver of a Kia Carnival slowed at the entrance of a train station carpark to let the family cross when it was hit from behind by a white BMW driven by P-plater Aaron Papazoglu, 19. That allegedly caused the Kia to surge forward and hit Ms Dhareshwar.Â
Ms Dhareshwar was treated at the scene for catastrophic injuries before she was rushed to Westmead Hospital, where she and her unborn child later died.
Papazoglu was later arrested at a home in nearby Wahroonga and charged with three offences, including dangerous driving occasioning death and causing the loss of a foetus.
The Daily Mail can reveal Ms Dhareshwar and her husband bought a plot of land in Grantham Farm, in Sydney’s north west, last year.Â
Records show the couple submitted a building development application for a two-storey dwelling with Blacktown City Council just two months ago, on September 8.
Samanvitha Dhareshwar, 33, was tragically killed on Friday night, along with her unborn baby
University student and P-plater Aaron Papazoglu, 19, has been charged over the crashÂ
Ms Dhareshwar and her husband had purchased the above plot of land and were planning their dream home
The application was approved on September 16, allowing the couple to proceed with their construction plans which were estimated to cost $494,886.Â
Meanwhile Papazoglu appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday as shattered residents laid tributes at the crash scene.
Papazoglu, who has no previous criminal or driving offences, accelerated through an intersection when the traffic light changed to amber, his lawyer Patrick Schmidt told the court.
Applying for bail, Mr Schmidt said the Kia station wagon had stopped to let the pedestrians cross the road and Papazoglu would have been expecting the car to have completed its turn before he collided with it.
The teenager had not been using any drugs or alcohol, was not street racing and had not run a red light, he said.
‘This wasn’t a prolonged, intentional act. This is … a tragic outcome to a series of unfortunate events,’ Mr Schmidt said.
Police allege Papazoglu was speeding, although prosecutors were unsure what evidence supported that claim.
Papazoglu, who is studying a business degree at university, appeared in court via video link from a police holding cell, wearing a hooded jumper.
He sat silently with his head down as Magistrate Ray Plibersek read the facts about the case.
His lawyer presented character references to the court, including from his mother, aunt, uncle and his employer at an after-school care centre.
Mr Plibersek noted Papazoglu’s ‘excellent’ driving record and said he seemed to be a ‘young man of good standing’, but knocked back his bail application due to the seriousness of the charges.
Samanvitha Dhareshwar was just weeks away from welcoming her child when she was allegedly killed in a crash sparked by Aaron Papazoglu’s drivingÂ
Police will allege Papazoglu’s white BMW went through an amber light and struck a stopped Kia, pushing it into Samanvitha Dhareshwar and her family as they crossed a road
Police and emergency services on George Street, Hornsby where the 33-year-old mother was walking with her husband and their three-year-old son on Friday nightÂ
‘It’s an absolutely tragic case,’ he said.
‘It’s a terrible outcome for two families … the community’s heart goes out to (the victim’s) family for the tragic loss.’
Police had opposed bail due to the seriousness of the matter and said a prison sentence was likely if Papazoglu was convicted.
Papazoglu’s matter will return to court on Tuesday for a mention, with a brief of evidence due by January 18.
The magistrate asked Papazoglu if he understood what had happened in court.
‘I just really want to see my family,’ Papazoglu replied.
He had reportedly asked police for updates about the state of his BMW while in custody.
Meanwhile, tributes continue to build at the crash scene, including a heartbreaking letter from a woman who rushed to Ms Dhareshwar’s aid in her final moments.
Eight months pregnant Samanvitha Dhareshwar, her husband and their three-year-old son were just a few minutes from their apartment in Hornsby where the horror unfolded Â
Several tributes were left at the scene of the catastrophic crash where Samanvitha Dhareshwar and her unborn baby died after being struck while walking with her husband and young son
The woman was out walking near Hornsby train station on Friday night when she witnessed the crash.
On a card she later left at the scene addressed to ‘Dear Mum + Bub + family’, she explained that ‘I arrived here on my nightly walk just after the accident occurred’.
‘While we don’t know each other, it was a great privilege to be present with you for those moments,’ the woman, who signed off as ‘Laura’, wrote.
‘I pray for you and your little one that you are held with love as you leave this world.
‘Those moments present with you have imprinted a greater depth of love, care and compassion with me.Â
‘I will carry this into the world with yours and your baby’s names. Words can’t describe how sorry I am that this has happened to you.’
Ms Dhareshwar had been walking out with her husband and their young son on what tragically would be their last outing as a family.
Following the horrific crash, her devastated family were seen crying and covering their mouths in shock.
‘I have children and grandchildren. I can’t even imagine how that family is feeling,’ one woman told the Daily Telegraph.
Inquiries into the crash continue.
Police urge anyone with information to contact Hornsby Police or Crime Stoppers.Â
Zoe’s Law, introduced in NSW in 2022, created specific offences for causing the loss of an unborn child through criminal acts.Â
Previously, such loss was treated as an injury to the mother.Â
Under the law, if a foetus of at least 20 weeks or 400 grams dies due to dangerous driving or grievous bodily harm, offenders face harsher penalties, with up to three years added to the maximum sentence for the underlying offence.Â
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