Dangerous hit-and-run driver kills wife and son as husband watches on in horror

A man watched as his wife and son were killed after a dangerous driver from Yorkshire ploughed into them head-on - and then hid from the police.

Angela Boyack, 59, and her son, Stephen, 22, were driving back along the A632 Chesterfield Road in near Kelstedge, Derbyshire, when Sheffield-based Joshua Hill, 27, crashed into them.

He had been attempting to overtake a car in his BMW X3 in the rain and collided head-on with Angela's Hyundai i20 travelling in the opposite direction - killing her instantly.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Stephen, who had been driving the car, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital where he died a short time later. Angela's husband, William, was driving with his elder son behind his wife and witnessed the collision.

The Boyack family and members of the public run to the scene of the car crash.The Boyack family and members of the public run to the scene of the car crash.
The Boyack family and members of the public run to the scene of the car crash.

Hill pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving while unlicensed/uninsured, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report an accident. He was jailed for 13 years at Derby Crown Court on June 7.

In a victim impact statement, William said: "I am still constantly having the most horrific and soul sickening flashbacks to the collision which continue to be crippling for me. Losing my wife, Angela, and my son, Stephen, has ruined my life in every sense of the word and meaning.

"If losing Angela was not enough, I lost my youngest beautiful gentle giant of a son. This has utterly and totally destroyed me. He was only 22 years old and had his whole life to live."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hill ran from the scene of the collision, stopping a passing motorist and asking for a lift into Chesterfield, before getting the bus to Sheffield. He then hid at various properties in the city for two days before being arrested on December 11, 2023.

Angela Boyack and Stephen Boyack were both killed following a collision in DerbyshireAngela Boyack and Stephen Boyack were both killed following a collision in Derbyshire
Angela Boyack and Stephen Boyack were both killed following a collision in Derbyshire

Hill, of Wheata Road, Sheffield, initially denied the charges before entering a guilty plea on the first day of his trial in May 2024.

William said: "There are not words in the English language to describe the disgust and contempt that I have for Hill. The fact he stood there watching the carnage that he had perpetrated and didn't help. Hill's actions on that day have robbed me of my wife and my son and has destroyed my life.

"I will never forgive him or forget his actions and the damage he has done.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"To put myself, my son, my family and friends through so much heartache and uncertainty whilst knowing his guilt and culpability in the deaths of two people, the fact that he knew he was guilty and refused to acknowledge his actions which caused the death of two innocent souls, then waiting for almost five months to admit to what the evidence clearly shows.

"The heartache, stress, pain and desolation are unbearable. Why, why did you do this? That is what I want to know."

Detective Constable Ian Niven, who led the investigation, said: "This was an horrific collision which caused the deaths of two people who were in the area visiting family. The fact that it occurred in front of Angela's husband and son is even more devastating. For Hill to then run from the scene while other members of the public rushed to help shows his blatant disregard for anyone else.

"Sadly for Angela and Stephen's family, the consequences of Hill's actions on that day will live with them forever as they have to face the future without their loved ones. While nothing can ever bring Angela and Stephen back, I hope that knowing Hill is now behind bars for some considerable time allows their family some small comfort."