‘We felt harassed’: Professional motocross rider’s family forced to move home after fatal car crash 

The mother of a professional motocross rider killed in a car crash, has spoken of the heartbreaking decision to move home, claiming her family was repeatedly “harassed” by supporters of the driver whose car he was in.

Cohn Evans died at the scene of the car crash. Picture: Supplied

The mother of a professional motocross rider tragically killed in a car crash in 2022 has spoken of the heartbreaking decision to move home claiming her family was repeatedly “harassed” by supporters of the driver.

Cohn Evans, 22, was in the back seat of a car travelling along Dungaree Drive towards Pub Lane in New Beith on November 30, 2022 when police allege the driver lost control and crashed into a tree about 6:30pm.

Cohn died at the scene while the driver – Joshua Jordan John Boyton – and front seat passenger sustained minor injuries.

Months later, Boyton, who was Cohn’s personal trainer and friend, was hit with a number of charges including: dangerously operate or interfere with the operation of a vehicle causing death.

Boyton is defending the charges.

This charge was committed to Beenleigh District Court after an indictment was presented on July 23 with the matter listed for callover today (October 18).

Boyton’s other charges – vehicles used on road must be registered; drive uninsured vehicle; light vehicle must not be driven or parked on a road if defective; modification, other than compliant modification of light vehicle prohibited, driver fail to remain at incident and render assistance – remain before Beaudesert Magistrates Court, with the next mention listed for October 29.

Cohn Evans died in a car crash last year in 2022. Picture: Supplied

Boyton has not entered a plea with the matter expected to go to trial.

There is no suggestion Boyton has had any involvement in the purported harassment of the dead man’s family.

Speaking nearly two years after the fatal crash, Cohn’s mother Dolly Evans told The Courier-Mail her family were forced to move out of their Jimboomba home after being “harassed” by supporters of Boyton.

“It was just heartbreaking,” she said.

“(They) made it uncomfortable for us … they would drive down our street … we felt harassed.

“Everyone could drive up and down our street, you can’t in this place, it’s a cul-de-sac … our neighbours know who’s coming and going.

“(Cohn) has a bedroom set up (in the new house) exactly the way it was at the (old) house.”

Mrs Evans said for the first time since the crash she felt “confident” about the court proceedings with the last 18 months “adjournment after adjournment”.

“I’m happy we are moving into the district court,” she said.

“Every two weeks for a couple of months now we’ve been in court … so every two weeks it takes me four days to get over (the court proceedings) and three days to build up to it … it just wore me down.

Josh Boyton was hit with a number of charges including: dangerously operate or interfere with the operation of a vehicle causing death. Picture: Facebook

“I know I haven’t grieved, recently I was admitted into a mental health facility … I still think (Cohn) is going to walk in the door every day.

“Every night we leave the light on over the stove … I still wait for him to come home.”

Speaking about being admitted into a mental health facility, Mrs Evans said: “I was fighting it all the way”.

“It wasn’t something I was willing to do, but I just knew that I needed to be here for Cohn,” she said.

“I’ve always said that there’s an end game with this and that was to get some justice so I needed to give myself a rest and that was the only place that was a safe place for me to go.”

Mrs Evans said Cohn would have celebrated his 24th birthday last week.

“We are watching (Cohn’s) friends get married, we are watching them get engaged, we are watching some of them have children and buy homes, we are watching some of them win titles at motocross … it’s hard, it’s very hard,” Mrs Evans said.

Cohn Evans, mum Dolly Evans and dad Jason Evans outside their old family home. Picture: Supplied

She previously told The Courier-Mail that Cohn and Boyton had only known each other “socially” for about six months.

“The other week there was a food festival in Jimboomba and our friends were saying ‘come on down’ … then the next minute we got a phone call saying ‘don’t come, he’s here’,” Mrs Evans.

“Our son used to go (Jimboomba Tavern) on a Friday or some afternoons and have a little drink … we won’t go there (now).

“I still won’t drive down Teviot Rd because I know that (road) leads to (Dungaree Drive).”

Police allege Boyton made “engine modifications” and did not make a “reasonable endeavour” to contact emergency services following the crash, according to court documents.

Mrs Evans previously claimed Cohn’s phone was taken from the scene and returned to police months later after a “factory reset”.