Man admits causing passenger's death in crash

A man has admitted causing the death of his passenger when he crashed his car into a tree in Kent.

Colby Hammond, 20, appeared before Canterbury Crown Court on Wednesday where he spoke only to confirm his name and enter a guilty plea to the charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Ethan Entwistle, 18, died when Hammond crashed the car he was driving in Dumpton Park Drive, Broadstairs, on 1 October 2023.

Mr Entwistle's mother, Keena Entwistle, said it was a relief to hear the driver plead guilty to the charge.

The judge told Hammond to prepare for a custodial punishment when he is sentenced on 28 August.

Ms Entwistle said she was relieved that Hammond had "taken responsibility for what he's done".

She added that he had not only "ruined Ethan's life" but also the lives of her family and "so many people".

Ben Brazil - one of Ethan's closest friends who was also a passenger in the car when it crashed - said he thought about the incident every day.

He said hearing the guilty plea was "like a big stress relief gone".

"After the hearing today I know it's not going to go on for a couple more years, it's going to be over and done with sooner," he said.

Mr Brazil added that the crash would be "haunting me for god knows how long".

"I've been trying to not forget it, but come to agreement with the situation," he said.

Hammond's bail conditions include not sitting in the front seat of a vehicle for any reason and not contacting the other passengers who were in the car at the time of the crash.

He has also been formally disqualified from driving. The length of the ban and any necessary re-tests will be decided at a later date, the judge said.

Kent County Council has introduced extra speed restriction measures around the site of the crash following a campaign by Ms Entwistle and other local residents after the incident.

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