New Details Released In Death Of Bucks Firefighter, Sprint Car Racer

HILLTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Hilltown Township Police have released details of a weekend crash that claimed the life of 35-year-old Joseph Kay, a firefighter and a Sprint Car Series Racing favorite.

Police said Kay, a passenger in a Polaris side-by-side vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene of a June 2 crash at Green Street and Rickert Road.

Kay was the vice president of John W. Kay Electrical Contractors in Richboro, a former Plumsteadville firefighter, and a Sprint 305 Car Series racing favorite.

Police said they were attempting to stop the Polaris after observing the driver veer partially off the road raising concerns about possible impairment and the driver’s ability to safely operate the vehicle. The vehicle also lacked registration and should not have been operating on the road, police said.

The incident began at 1 a.m. Sunday when a Hilltown officer spotted the unregistered Polaris at Mill Road and initiated a traffic stop after observing the vehicle veer partially off the road, police said.

Police said the driver fled down Green Street for approximately half a mile and tried to make a right turn on Rickert Road, but lost control and flipped the vehicle. Both occupants were partially ejected in the roll-over crash.

Police said Kay died at the scene. On Wednesday, the Bucks County Coroner’s Office ruled that Kay’s cause of death was blunt force trauma.

The driver complained of pain at the scene but refused medical treatment, police said.

The accident remains under investigation by the Hilltown Township Police Department and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office. Any applicable charges will be filed at the appropriate time, police said.

Following the accident, a GoFundMe was set up in his memory by Plumsteadville Fire Company Captain Andy Kiljanski to help Joe's wife with the resulting financial burdens,

“Today, we lost the absolute greatest friend, husband, son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, etc. who was so full of life in an unexpected, tragic, heartbreaking accident,” reads Kiljanski's GoFundMe posting.

“To know Joey was to know love. He could light up an entire room with his infectious laugh and loved his friends and family with everything he had. (He was a) kind, generous, compassionate, beautiful soul who will be immensely missed.

“We are hoping to alleviate any financial burdens on Joey's wife, Rachel, as she tries to navigate this world without the love of her life.”

The last Facebook message Kay posted was to his wife, who celebrated her birthday on Sunday, the day he lost his life.

"Happy 30th birthday Rachel! I’m so proud of what you’ve accomplished in your 20s! I can't wait to see what you’re going to achieve next! Love you," he wrote.