New South Wales, Australia, September 17, 2026 — Nepali man Sandip Adhikari, 27, has been charged with negligent driving occasioning death after a three-year-old girl was fatally struck by a vehicle in western Sydney.
The girl was struck at a property on Normanby Road in Auburn at about 2pm on Tuesday, September 15, as an SUV was entering the driveway. She was taken to Westmead Hospital in critical condition but later died from her injuries.
Adhikari appeared at Burwood Local Court on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the incident. He has not entered a plea to the charge, and the matter has been adjourned until October 27.
Australian and Nepali media have identified Adhikari as a Nepali man living in the Auburn area. Reports say he lives in a granny flat at the rear of the property, while police are investigating his relationship with the occupants of the home and the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Outside court, Adhikari expressed regret over the child's death and said he was “very sorry” to the girl's family. His lawyer, Danny Eid, said his client was deeply distressed and concerned about the welfare of the bereaved family.
