Pregnant Indian woman killed in accident in Sydney’s north west, teenage driver charged

A 19-year-old man has been charged after a pregnant Indian woman was killed in a tragic crash in Hornsby, Sydney’s north west, on Friday night.

Police said the incident took place shortly after 8pm near the entrance of a carpark on George Street. A Kia Carnival had slowed down to allow 33-year-old Shilpa Dhareshwar, an Indian national, and her family to walk past, when a BMW driven by the teenager allegedly slammed into the Kia from behind. The impact pushed the Kia forward, striking Dhareshwar as she stepped across the driveway.

Emergency services treated her at the scene before she was rushed to Westmead Hospital in critical condition. Despite efforts to save her, both she and her unborn child died a short time later.

Police confirmed that neither the 19-year-old BMW driver nor the 48-year-old Kia driver was injured. Both were taken to Hornsby Hospital for mandatory testing. No passengers were in either vehicle at the time.

A crime scene was established by Ku-ring-gai Police Area Command and examined by the Crash Investigation Unit. Just after midnight, the teenage BMW driver was arrested at a home in Wahroonga and taken to Hornsby Police Station.

He has now been charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving causing death, and causing the loss of a foetus following the death of a pregnant woman. He has been refused bail and is expected to appear before Parramatta Local Court today.