A California woman survived a crash on a Kentucky interstate, only to be fatally struck moments later while trying to rescue her dog after it ran into traffic.
Morabia Siddhi Suresh, 33, was riding in the passenger seat of a vehicle traveling on Interstate 75 in Rockcastle County when it hydroplaned and slammed into a concrete barrier, according to Kentucky State Trooper Scottie Pennington.
Pennington said neither the driver nor Suresh appeared to suffer serious injuries in the June 8 wreck.
After the crash, Suresh got out of the vehicle and opened a rear door to check on her dog. The animal then bolted from the car and ran into the interstate, leading Suresh to chase after it in an effort to bring it back to safety.
Authorities said Caleb Valentine, 25, of London, Kentucky, was driving a Chevrolet Malibu when he struck both Suresh and the dog on the roadway.
Suresh was taken to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Her dog was also killed.
Valentine is not facing any charges related to the incident as of Saturday afternoon, Pennington said.
The investigation is ongoing, and police do not believe there were any drugs or alcohol involved in either collision.
Suresh was a Fremont-based physical therapist and an avid dog lover.
She was the director of rehabilitation at Rockport Administrative Services, a company that oversees more than 70 nursing homes, according to her LinkedIn.
In both her LinkedIn and Facebook profile pictures, Suresh is smiling while holding her dog Penelope.
Pennington said the dog that was killed was a Goldendoodle, but it is unclear if Penelope, who Suresh endearingly called “Penny” and appears to be the same breed, was the pet involved in the fatal incident.
To celebrate Penelope’s fourth birthday, Suresh donated to a charity in India called The Voice of Stray Dogs, which helps feed animals in need, in February 2025.
“Siddhi, a huge dog lover, absolutely adores Penny and calls her ‘the happiest accident of her life,’” the organization wrote at the time.
“She cannot imagine life any other way. To share this joyous occasion with our babies at VOSD, Siddhi has sponsored a meal in Penny’s honour.”
