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Boyfriend of Sydney pedestrian hit by truck rushed to the scene after grim premonition

The worried boyfriend of a young Sydney woman killed by a truck driver who allegedly ran a red light rushed to find her lifeless body after she failed to answer her phone.

Danielle McGrath, 26, was fatally struck on The Kingsway near Port Hacking Road in Caringbah in Sydney's south about 7.40am on Tuesday.

A 59-year-old Illawong driver was taken to Sutherland Hospital for mandatory testing and later charged with dangerous driving occasioning death.

Aaron Roberts had a grim premonition when he was stopped in congested traffic caused by a collision where his girlfriend Danielle McGrath was run over by a truck. Source: Facebook
Aaron Roberts had a grim premonition when he was stopped in congested traffic caused by a collision where his girlfriend Danielle McGrath was run over by a truck. Source: Facebook

There have been media reports suggesting Ms McGrath was crossing at a green pedestrian signal when she was hit by the prime mover after the driver allegedly ran a red light.

Her partner Aaron Roberts was stopped in congested traffic caused by the collision.

He tried to reach Ms McGrath on her mobile phone after having a grim premonition, but she failed to answer, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Mr Roberts then sprinted to the scene of the crash and his worst fears were realised. He saw his girlfriend's handbag strewn across the road and her body covered with a white sheet.

A shop owner who witnessed Mr Roberts' heart-wrenching discovery said: “It would have been horrible for him to see her lying there on the road, and I think he recognised it was her when he spotted her handbag lying on the road.”

Danielle was crossing the road on her usual route to work when she was struck in Caringbah, south Sydney. Picture: Facebook
Danielle was crossing the road on her usual route to work when she was struck in Caringbah, south Sydney. Picture: Facebook

Truck driver Alan Rojas was also at the heartbreaking scene, and watched as the offending driver burst into tears.

“I ran to the woman’s aid, but there was nothing anyone could do. It must have been almost instantaneous.

"I saw the woman on the road, and no-one was helping, but when I got closer I realised there was nothing I could do,” Mr Rojas told the newspaper.

Danielle's mother Helen Kerr McGrath said she wished she could trade places with her daughter. Picture: Facebook
Danielle's mother Helen Kerr McGrath said she wished she could trade places with her daughter. Picture: Facebook

About 25 close family and friends gathered at the McGrath family's Illawong home yesterday evening to remember Danielle.

Loved ones shared stories about the young woman who was well known in the community.

Following the memorial, Danielle's mother Helen Kerr McGrath shared a moving social media tribute to her daughter on Wednesday, in which she said she wished she could trade places with her daughter.

"I am laying here with a broken heart longing to hold you in my arms one last time. If I could change places with you I would do this in an instant," Ms McGrath wrote on Facebook.

She said she had loved her daughter from the moment she was born, and not a day had passed that Danielle hadn't made someone smile and laugh.

Danielle's mother remembers her daughter as a woman 'loved by everyone'. Picture: Facebook
Danielle's mother remembers her daughter as a woman 'loved by everyone'. Picture: Facebook

"I don't know how I am every going to get through this and I will be waiting everyday to have our regular call just to tell me you love me.

"I love you more then you will every know and I pray that you are loved in heaven as you were loved by everyone here.

A 59-year-old truck driver was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death. Picture: 7 News
A 59-year-old truck driver was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death. Picture: 7 News
Ms McGrath was crossing at a green pedestrian signal when she was hit by the prime mover after the driver allegedly ran a red light. Picture: 7 News
Ms McGrath was crossing at a green pedestrian signal when she was hit by the prime mover after the driver allegedly ran a red light. Picture: 7 News

More than 100 people responded to the tribute within hours of it being published, speaking of their devastation and loss.

"Danielle was a gift to us all - she loved and was loved by so many and will continue to be loved for a very long time," Liza Harper said.

The driver accused of causing Ms McGrath's death is out on bail and is due to face Sutherland Local Court on December 8.