Crash victim's mum takes speed cut to council

Ethan Entwistle, 18, died in a crash in Broadstairs in October last year

The mother of a teenager who died in a crash in Kent has taken her petition calling for speed reductions to the county council.

Ethan Entwistle, 18, died when the car he was a passenger in crashed into a tree in Dumpton Park Drive, Broadstairs, on 1 October 2023.

His mother launched a petition urging Kent County Council to prevent future deaths by installing speed reduction measures in the “accident hotspot”.

The council said an investigation was ongoing, and it would ensure any issues raised were resolved.

Two people have been killed in crashes on the 30mph road in recent years, including Ethan, who was killed two days before his 19th birthday.

Cyclist Jacqueline McFarling, 54, died in a crash on the road in January 2023.

Ethan’s mother, Keena Entwistle-Lewis, from Thanet, is calling for the introduction of flashing speed signs on the road.

“I don’t want anybody else to ever feel this way,” she said.

“If we can stop one accident, one death – that is enough. If we can stop more, that is even better.”

Keena Entwistle-Lewis launched a petition calling for speed reductions in Dumpton Park Drive

More than 1,925 have signed the petition so far.

The council said findings from its investigation would help prevent similar types of incidents occurring in the county.

“Any death on Kent’s roads is tragic, and we send our deepest condolences to Ethan’s family,” a spokesman said.

“One death on our roads is too many, and we will work with Kent Police and other partners to ensure any issues raised are resolved.”

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