Teen driver jailed over crash that killed friend

Colby Hammond was 18 and twice over the drink drive limit when he crashed

A teenage driver who was twice over the alcohol limit when he crashed into a tree and killed his passenger in Kent has been jailed for seven years.

Colby Hammond, aged 18 at the time, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Ethan Entwistle, also 18, by dangerous driving.

Canterbury Crown Court heard Hammond had been drinking vodka, Jägerbombs and "one or two drinks he could not recall the name of" before accelerating to 75mph in a 30mph zone on Dumpton Park Drive, Broadstairs.

Jailing him for seven years, judge Simon James said no sentence could possibly come anywhere close to bringing Mr Entwistle's friends and family peace or solace.

Ethan Entwistle was killed in a crash two years ago

At the hearing on Thursday, Judge James said: "Ethan... had the whole of his life in front of him.

"A beloved son, a supportive big brother and valued friend to so many. His loss... has broken the hearts of all who knew and loved him," he continued.

Mr Entwistle's mum Keena has previously said she was relieved he took responsibility for what happened.

She added Hammond had ruined the lives of "so many people" by killing her son on 1 October 2023 - two days before his 19th birthday.

'We're gonna crash'

Hammond, Mr Entwistle and two others were on their way back from a night out in Ramsgate when they crashed.

They had met up as a small "school reunion", though Ethan and Hammond did not know each other well.

Mason Anderson, who was sat in the back seat, recalled feeling "really scared" by Hammond's driving, according to court sentencing notes.

He told him to slow down and warned him they were going to crash.

The crash had a "terrible" impact on the front section where Mr Entwistle was sitting, the documents also show.

Mr Anderson added that after the crash Hammond walked off, lay on the grass and said: "I am going to prison now, and that is it".

Hammond's blood alcohol level was approximately double the drink-drive limit of 80mg per 100ml at 164mg per 100ml - with a theoretical range of up to 227mg.

Drink driving was a "pretty normal thing" for Hammond to do, according to one of his friends.

Keena Entwistle (pictured) has said she does not want any other families to lose loved ones

Ben Brazil, who was sat behind Mr Entwistle, said he had lost his "best friend".

He dragged Mr Entwistle from the car and performed CPR on him, though a post-mortem found the "massive blunt-force injuries" he had suffered were "unsurvivable", court documents say.

Mr Brazil added in a victim impact statement the incident had left him with PTSD, alongside flashbacks and panic attacks.

He said he "feels empty" because of the loss of his friend.

Mr Entwistle's mum Keena has visited students from their school to educate them about driving safely.

"I don't want any other family getting the 04:00 knock on the door, I don't want them being told their child has died," she explained.

Mr Brazil (pictured) said he was left traumatised by the crash

Ms Entwistle has also called for speed warning signs to be installed on the road where her son died, which residents say is an "accident hotspot".

Kent County Council (KCC) has said it was working with local councils "to investigate the feasibility" of this proposal.

Hammond was disqualified from driving by the judge for six years.

"This has been a tragic case for all involved," said Kent Police investigating officer DC Lee Berridge.

"The message is clear, never get behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking alcohol and if you are a passenger, don't be afraid to refuse a lift," he added.