World cycling champion Melissa Hoskins allegedly jumped onto the hood of a car and grabbed a door handle before the vehicle drove off, falling to the ground, police said.
South Australian police on Sunday arrested her former star cyclist husband Rohan Dennis, 33, over her death, claiming he was behind the wheel of the submarine that hit the mother of two.
It is also suspected that she may have been towed by the $70,000 dark gray Volkswagen Amarok Highline V6 (2022 model year). The incident was captured on neighbors' surveillance cameras.
Ms Hoskins, 32, was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with serious injuries and died a few hours later.
Dennis is charged with causing death by dangerous driving, careless driving and endangering life.
The incident allegedly took place in the exclusive Adelaide suburb of Medindie, outside her $2.45 million mansion.
Melissa Hoskins (left) died after she was allegedly hit by a ute in Adelaide's inner north on Sunday, with her husband Rohan Dennis (right) reportedly behind the wheel
Police will allege Ms Hoskins jumped on the bonnet and grabbed a door handle before the vehicle drove off, falling to the ground
Dennis was bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court again in March.
Two teenage neighbors attempted to give Ms Hoskins first aid before paramedics arrived.
Just a few days earlier, the couple shared a family photo in front of a Christmas tree.
In the photo shared on Instagram, Dennis could be seen smiling from ear to ear as he posed with Ms Hoskins and their two young children.
“Merry Christmas to you from our family,” he wrote in the caption.
Numerous sporting organizations and other cyclists have paid tribute to Ms Hoskins following the tragic death.
Among them is the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), which represented Ms Hoskins at the 2012 and 2016 Games.
“AOC has expressed deep sadness at the loss of Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins following the tragic events in Adelaide,” said a post on X.
“Our condolences go out to Melissa’s family, friends and the cycling community during this extremely difficult time.”
Mr Dennis (left) was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, careless driving and endangering life
AOC has expressed his deepest sadness at the loss of Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins following the tragic events in Adelaide.
Our condolences go out to Melissa's family, friends and the cycling community at this extremely difficult time. pic.twitter.com/oh8Z8w2qf8
— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) December 31, 2023
Marne Fechner, chief executive of AusCycling, the national governing body for the sport in Australia, described Ms Hoskins' death as a “tragic incident”.
“Melissa, a mother, daughter and wife, was also a champion cyclist who thrilled and inspired us with her exquisite skills on the track and road,” Ms. Fechner said in a statement.
“Melissa began her cycling career at the age of 16 and by the time she retired at the age of 25, she had shown the world that she was an athlete of rare ability.”
“Melissa described her team pursuit gold medal at the 2015 UCI Track Cycling World Championships as the highlight of her career, but for the rest of us the highlight was simply having her there.”
Retired track cyclist Anna Meares, who was also named Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, posted a message of condolence on her social media channels.
“I have a very heavy heart,” Ms Meares said in a post to X.
“My thoughts are with her children, her family and her friends.”
“This is a very difficult and tragic time.” REST IN PEACE'
Ms. Hoskins' former team, GreenEDGE, which has since been renamed Jayco-AlUla, also expressed sadness at the news.
“Our thoughts are with her family, friends and the entire cycling community at this deeply sad time,” the team said in a statement.
“She will never be forgotten.”
We are devastated to learn of the death of former GreenEDGE Cycling rider Melissa Dennis, née Hoskins.
Our thoughts are with her family, friends and the entire cycling community at this deeply sad time.
She will never be forgotten.
RIP Mel.
📸 @Nikkij51 pic.twitter.com/8gkvl1yh4D
– Team Jayco AlUla (@GreenEDGEteam) December 31, 2023
Ms Hoskins married Mr Dennis in 2018 and the couple have two children together
Ms Hoskins is originally from Perth and married Mr Dennis in 2018. The couple has two children.
In addition to her Olympic successes, Ms. Hoskins won gold in the women's team pursuit at the 2015 World Championships. She retired from professional cycling in 2017.
Mr. Dennis was on the podium at the 2013 and 2020 Olympics, was a two-time world champion and stage winner of the 2015 Tour de France.
He only retired from professional cycling at the end of 2023.