Woman Survives Highway Crash Only to Be Killed Trying to Save Her Dog

A California woman survived a highway crash in Kentucky, only to be killed moments later while trying to save her dog after the pet ran into traffic.

Morabia Siddhi Suresh, 33, of Fremont, California, was riding in the passenger seat of a vehicle on I-75 in Rockcastle County on June 8 when the car hydroplaned and slammed into a concrete wall, Kentucky State Police said.

State Trooper Scottie Pennington said Suresh and the driver were not seriously injured in the initial crash.

But the terrifying ordeal took a deadly turn when Suresh got out of the vehicle and opened the back door to check on her dog. The animal escaped and ran onto the busy interstate.

Suresh chased after the dog in a desperate attempt to save it, authorities said.

As she entered the roadway, she and the dog were struck by a Chevrolet Malibu driven by 25-year-old Caleb Valentine of London, Kentucky.

Suresh was rushed to Rockcastle Regional Hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Her dog was also killed.

Valentine was not facing charges as of Saturday afternoon, according to Pennington.

Police said they do not believe drugs or alcohol were involved in either crash. The investigation remains ongoing.

Suresh was a physical therapist based in Fremont and worked as director of rehabilitation at Rockport Administrative Services, a company that oversees more than 70 nursing homes, according to her LinkedIn profile.

She was also known as a devoted dog lover. In both her LinkedIn and Facebook profile photos, Suresh is seen smiling while holding her dog, Penelope.

Pennington said the dog killed in the highway tragedy was a Goldendoodle, but it is unclear if the pet was Penelope, whom Suresh lovingly called “Penny.”

In February 2025, Suresh celebrated Penelope’s fourth birthday by donating to The Voice of Stray Dogs, an animal charity in India that helps feed dogs in need.

“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.”