Joseph John Hill: Man jailed after killing mum of five in horror head-on collision

An unlicensed driver had meth in his system when his reckless driving left his girlfriend dead, with her mother revealing how the tragedy has devastated her family, including the five children left behind.

The mother of a Dalby woman killed in a horrific collision with a truck has spoken about the heartache of seeing her five grandchildren grow up without their mother, as the unlicensed driver who caused the death is put behind bars.

Joseph John Hill had meth in his system when he drove along the Warrego Highway in Bowenville on June 18, 2021 and veered onto the other side of the road to overtake another car before colliding with a freightliner.

His girlfriend, Brooke Holder was in the passenger seat and died at the scene.

Dalby District Court heard the 29-year-old mother of five suffered “immediate catastrophic injuries”.

Joseph John Hill had meth in his system and was unlicensed when he caused the crash that killed his girlfriend, Brooke Holder. Picture: Facebook

Crown prosecutor Brendan White read out an impact statement from the victim’s mother, Ruth Deuble, which described the moment she learnt her daughter died, and how the devastating crash affected Ms Holder’s children.

“My heart sunk while waiting for the call back from the police, then my heart broke into pieces and I cried and cried,” it read.

“My grandchildren miss her very much. They will grow up without their mummy and miss out on having her at every milestone.

“I pray when you have done your time and you get out, you (Hill) protect your daughter.

“I would just like to know why he was driving so fast that morning.”

Dalby mum of five Brooke Holder was killed in the horror crash caused by her boyfriend, Joseph John Hill.

Mr White said there were no other factors involved in the cause of the Dalby woman’s death other than Hill’s “reckless driving”.

“It was a fine day, it was dry, the road was flat and straight.”

He described Hill’s driving as “erratic” and said while overtaking vehicles he veered onto the other side of the road which caused other drivers to take “evasive” action to avoid him.

The court heard the Toowoomba man narrowly missed another car and a road train in a separate incident just 10 minutes prior to the fatal collision.

Mr White said this wasn’t the man’s first head-on collision and that in fact he has a 12 page criminal history and in 2018 drove a stolen car into a police vehicle.

“He’s now killed a person and it’s tragically unsurprising.”

Joseph John Hill pleaded guilty in Dalby District Court to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death. Picture: Facebook

Defence barrister Frank Martin said his client suffered injuries in the crash, including the total immobility of his right arm and was remorseful for causing the death of the woman he had known since he was six.

Hill’s family, friends and daughter supported him in the courtroom.

Judge Nathan Jarro told the Toowoomba man his decision to drive was “grossly foolish”.

“The tragic circumstances are a burden her family will suffer for the rest of their lives,” he said.

“It’s hard to think of anything worse than getting a phone call saying your loved one won’t be coming home because of a car crash.”

Hill pleaded guilty to the dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, drug driving and unlicensed driving.

He was sentenced to nine years’ jail and will be eligible for parole on February 24, 2027.

He is disqualified from driving absolutely.