California woman dies after being struck by car while trying to save her pet

Morabia Siddhi Suresh, 33, of Fremont, California, was killed on Monday, 8 June, after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 75 in Rockcastle County, Kentucky, while attempting to rescue her pet that had escaped following an earlier crash. Kentucky State Police Trooper Scottie Pennington confirmed the details in a statement this week. Suresh was transported to a nearby hospital but later succumbed to her injuries.

How the collision occurred

Investigators established that Suresh had been involved in a separate collision before the fatal incident, the details of which — including the time and precise location — were not immediately made clear by Kentucky State Police.

Her pet escaped her vehicle as a result of that earlier crash. In an effort to retrieve the animal, Suresh entered the "travel portion of the roadway," Pennington said in his statement, placing herself in the path of an oncoming Chevrolet Malibu.

Pennington confirmed there is no indication that drugs or alcohol played any role in the collision. It was not immediately clear whether the driver of the Malibu — identified in connection with the incident as Valentine — had been arrested or was facing any charges. People has reached out to Kentucky State Police for further information.

A devoted animal lover

Suresh was widely described on social media as a passionate advocate for animals and a devoted pet owner. In February 2025, she marked the birthday of her dog Penelope — affectionately known as Penny — by making a donation to The Voice of Stray Dogs (VOSD), a prominent dog rescue organisation based in India.

At the time, VOSD shared a tribute to Suresh alongside the donation, which read: "Siddhi, a huge dog lover, absolutely adores Penny and calls her 'the happiest accident of her life.' She cannot imagine life any other way."