Driver convicted after mother and son die in crash

A man who killed a mother and son in a head-on crash in Derbyshire and then fled the scene has been jailed.

Joshua Hill attempted to overtake a vehicle on the A632 Chesterfield Road at Span Carr, near Kelstedge, on December 9, 2023, but hit an oncoming car.

Angela Boyack was killed at the scene, while Stephen Boyack, both of South Shields, died in hospital a short time later.

Hill, who admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving shortly before the trial began, was jailed for 13 years.

Derby Crown Court heard that Hill’s BMW had been seen doing “aggressive” overtaking before the crash, with one driver reporting that Hill’s passenger rolled down the window, laughed and raised the middle finger as they passed him.

Mrs Boyack’s husband William and eldest son Alex were driving behind and witnessed the crash.

Mr Boyack said he went to help his wife but saw she was already dead.

Hill, 27, fled to Sheffield and hid in various properties in the city before being arrested on December 11.

Ordering Hill to serve two-thirds of his 13-year sentence before being released on licence, and banning him from driving for 10 years, Judge Jonathan Straw said Hill had played “car Russian roulette” in his overtaking manoeuvres.

In his statement, Mr Boyack said he had “nothing but disgust and contempt” for Hill, of Wheata Road in Sheffield, and his passenger who “sat there and did nothing” as total strangers helped his wife and youngest son.

He added: “I can’t even begin to understand what happened that day, I get excruciating pain in my chest just thinking about it. Losing my wife and son has destroyed my life in every way.”