How a fresh-faced boy who saved up every penny for his ‘dream car’ went on to allegedly kill a pregnant mum and her unborn baby: Tragic backstory of 19-year-old P-plater charged over unthinkable car crash

A P-plater accused of killing a pregnant mum and her unborn child had worked hard to save up and buy his dream car that was allegedly involved in the crash, neighbours say.

Aaron Papazoglu, 19, has been charged over the death of Samanvitha Dhareshwar, 33, and her unborn baby after she was allegedly struck by a Kia along George Street, Hornsby, in Sydney‘s north shore, about 8pm on Friday.

Ms Dhareshwar, who was eight months pregnant, was walking with her husband Vineeth Rao Nandalike and their three year old son when she was allegedly hit as they attempted to cross the road at a Hornsby train station car park. 

Police will allege Papazoglu went through an orange light in his white BMW and ploughed into the back of the Kia, pushing it into the family. 

At the time, the Kia driver had allegedly stopped to give way to the family as they made their way home, which is just 350 metres away from the crash site.  

Now, as Ms Dhareshwar’s devastated family pivot from preparing to welcome the couple’s child to planning their funerals, new details have emerged about the teenage driver accused of taking their lives. 

The Daily Mail understands Papazoglu, who lives with his older brother and mother Cindy in an apartment in leafy Wahroonga, moved to the north shore with his family from the city’s inner west following the death of his father, Dikran, 11 years ago. 

He graduated from a local high school last year and had been working in after-school care while studying business at Macquarie University.

Aaron Papazoglu is pictured with his late father, Dikran, during his childhood

Papazoglu, 19, (pictured), who is a university student and P-plater, has been charged over the crash 

Samanvitha Dhareshwar, 33, was tragically killed on Friday night, along with her unborn baby

Neighbours in the apartment complex, set among well-manicured lawns, described Papazoglu as ‘a great young man who always said hello to people and who just loved that car’. 

‘He saved up for it and sold his previous car to help pay for it,’ one neighbour said.

‘Didn’t get as much as he had hoped but eventually was able to buy the car. He’s only had it about six months, but he cleaned it every week and looked after it. He would be in shock.’

Papazoglu’s car, a 2014 BMW 420i, has an estimated price tag of $16,000- $25,000.  

The fatal crash site is at the entrance of a busy Transport for NSW car park opposite Westfield Hornsby and the delivery docks for its Woolworths, David Jones and Target stores.

The Daily Mail understands Ms Dhareshwar and her husband have lived in their Hornsby unit, which is only a few minutes’ walk away, for four-and-a-half years. 

The couple were also in the process of building their dream home after purchasing a plot of land in Grantham Farm, in the city’s north west, last year. 

Their building application for a two-storey home was approved just two months ago. 

Pictured: The entrance to the Hornsby train station car park, where Ms Dhareshwar was allegedly struck on Friday night

Dozens of bouquets have been left by the side of the walkway as the community mourns the tragedy 

Sources say the couple were also considering upsizing apartments to be able to cater to relatives visiting from overseas. 

Earlier this year, Ms Dhareshwar and her husband hosted their parents from India and the couple had told the building manager of their apartment block that they were considering buying a larger, three-bedroom flat.

They said their two-bedroom unit on the fifth floor of the Orion Building on Pound Road, Hornsby was not large enough for family and they wanted to expand their living arrangements for the future.

The manager said Ms Dhareshwar was very slender and had not looked heavily pregnant even as she approached full term. She said she believed Ms Dhareshwar worked in the IT industry like her husband and that their two wages had made their lives more comfortable.

A woman who laid flowers on Monday as a tribute to Ms Dhareshwar and her family said she had been having dinner nearby around the time of the accident, and that there had been ‘a lot of people out and about’ on the streets around the Westfield hub.

Following the crash, 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 

Lying on the road at the scene on Monday afternoon were pieces of car debris, and airway and tracheal tubes left by the ambulance crew.

A card left at the site left a message for the fatal crash driver as well as the victims’ family.

Debris from the crash, including paramedic equipment, could be seen on the road on Monday 

A member of the community was seen dropping of flowers at the makeshift memorial on Monday 

The car park is opposite Westfield Hornsby and the delivery docks for its Woolworths, David Jones and Target stores

It reads: ‘To the father, mother, 3 year old and baby in mummy’s tummy, I am so sorry for what has happened. I hope Dad has the strength to keep waking up in the morning.

‘I hope that when the time is right that you dad can use this pain to help others. And ultimately find meaning and purpose to keep going.

‘I hope you draw strength from family as well as strangers.

‘To the 19 year old [accused] driver, we know you did not wake up that morning thinking that your [alleged] actions that day would take away mum’s life and baby’s life.

‘We know that in a sense your life has also been taken as you will be reminded of this event every day.

‘I hope that you can find gratitude and thanks to your family and those around you who will stand by you.

‘Sending love and healing to all. Love Montana and daughter Jasmine.’

Papazoglu was taken to hospital for mandatory testing on Friday night after the accident before being allowed to return home to his family’s unit. 

A mother and daughter left a touching note for Ms Dhareshwar’s family and the accused driver

The white BMW allegedly involved in the crash was Papazoglu’s ‘dream car’, according to neighbours

Police and emergency services are pictured at the scene on George Street, Hornsby, on Friday night

After police watched dashcam footage of the crash, they went to Papazoglu’s Millewa Avenue residence around 12.45am on Saturday and arrested him.

Papazoglu has been charged with three offences, including dangerous driving occasioning death and causing the loss of a foetus. 

He appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday, where his lawyer Patrick Schmidt applied for bail but it was formally rejected.

Mr Schmidt told the court Papazoglu, who has no previous criminal or driving offences, had accelerated through an intersection when the traffic light changed to amber and would have been expecting the Kia to have completed its turn into the carpark before he collided with it.

Mr Schmidt also argued Papazoglu had not been using any drugs or alcohol, was not street racing, and had not run a red light – and tendered character references for his client to the court including from his mother, aunt, uncle, and his employer.

However, Prosecutor Candice Chapman had argued against bail saying Papazoglu had ‘chosen to proceed through an orange light at excessive speed’ and that it wasn’t a ‘momentary lapse of judgment’. 

Papazoglu is expected to apply again for bail on Tuesday.