A TEEN has been charged after a pregnant woman and her unborn baby were killed in what Australian police describe as a “terrible” crash.
The 33-year-old mum, who was eight months pregnant, was walking with her husband and three-year-old son along a New South Wales car park.
She was suddenly struck at the entrance to the Hornsby railway station on George Street about 8pm.
The woman suffered catastrophic injuries and was rushed to Westmead Hospital, but neither she nor her unborn baby could be saved.
Police say a Kia Carnival, driven by a 48-year-old man, had slowed to give way to the family when it was hit from behind by a white BMW, allegedly driven by 19-year-old Aaron Papazoglu.
The impact reportedly pushed the Kia forward, striking the woman.
Assistant Commissioner David Driver said the scene was “very confronting” for first responders.
“Any serious crash is very confronting for first responders and particularly tragic when people pass away and indeed when there are children involved,” he said.
“This is a terrible, terrible story.”
Neither driver was injured, though both were taken to Hornsby Hospital for mandatory testing.
Police arrested Papazoglu at a Wahroonga home about 12.45am on Saturday.
He was charged with dangerous driving causing death, negligent driving causing death, and causing the loss of a fetus after the death of a pregnant woman.
Under Zoe’s Law, introduced in 2022, causing the loss of an unborn child through criminal acts carries harsher penalties.
He was refused bail and is due to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.
Police sources reportedly claim the teen repeatedly asked officers about the state of his BMW after the crash.
A crime scene was established and examined by the Crash Investigation Unit, and CCTV allegedly captured the incident.
“The exact nature of that I can’t comment on yet,” Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
Flowers have since been laid at the scene.
“I have children and grandchildren. I can’t even imagine how that family is feeling,” one woman said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Hornsby Police Station or Crime Stoppers.
