A childcare worker’s tragic death, alongside her unborn child, has been attributed to a devastating crash in northern Sydney, for which a young driver has now been granted bail. The incident unfolded on November 14 when 33-year-old Samanvidha Dhareshwar was walking with her husband and a child. They were struck by a station wagon on a Hornsby street.
The collision was triggered when a luxury sedan, driven by a 19-year-old probationary driver, hit the station wagon. The young driver, Aaron Papazoglu, is accused of accelerating through an intersection as the traffic light turned yellow, leading to the catastrophic chain of events.
Dhareshwar was rushed to the hospital following the incident, but tragically, neither she nor her unborn baby, expected in December, could be saved. This heartbreaking accident has left the community in shock and mourning.
In a recent development, Papazoglu appeared at Downing Centre Local Court for a second bail application, following a previous denial on Sunday. The court acknowledged that the university student had no prior criminal record or driving offenses.
Aaron Papazoglu made a second bid for bail at Downing Centre Local Court today after his first application was rejected on Sunday.
The university student, who has no previous criminal or driving offences, is accused of speeding up through an intersection when the traffic light changed to yellow, the first bail hearing was told.
Defence barrister Allan Goldsworthy today pressed for the end to the teenager’s seven-night stint in custody, saying there was nothing to show he had any criminal proclivity.
“This case boils down to a singular error on a roadway … albeit with tragic consequences,” he said.
Papazoglu has been charged with dangerous driving and negligent driving, both occasioning death, as well as causing the death of a fetus through the death of a pregnant woman.
A fourth charge, failing to stop at a red light, was added before today’s hearing.
Goldsworthy said the teen was demonstrably of good character and had been self-funding tens of thousands of dollars for his university degree by working at a childcare centre.
His family, including his single mum, were willing to put up their entire savings of $50,000 as surety to ensure Papazoglu attended court, the barrister said.
Family members nodded along, looking concerned in court while these submissions were made.
The police prosecutor said it was up to the court to decide whether bail conditions could mitigate any risk the 19-year-old would pose to the community.
Magistrate Scott Nash ordered the teen be released, finding that sufficient conditions could be put in place.
Papazoglu has been ordered to reside at an apartment in Wahroonga and to report to police once weekly.
He is not to contact any crown witnesses and is forbidden from being in the driver’s seat of any vehicle.
He will not be required to attend when his matter next comes before court on January 13.
