Mum welcomes speed signs after teenage son's death

The mother of a 18-year-old who died in a car crash says speed awareness signs on the road where he was killed are a "positive step forward" and mean others "won't have to feel what I felt".

Ethan Entwistle died when the car he was a front seat passenger in crashed into a tree on Dumpton Park Drive, Broadstairs, on 1 October 2023, two days before his 19th birthday.

His mother, Keena Entwistle, now says that new electronic signs are set to be installed on the road in a bid to stop others from speeding along the road.

She said: "I don't want other people to suffer - I want their loved ones to be able to walk through the door."

Entwistle added: "This has been a positive step forward. There was a sense of relief that hopefully this will all mean that other people won't have to feel what I felt."

Under the new plans, the electronic speed awareness signs will be installed on either side of the road by the end of March 2026.

The signs will flash up with a driver's speed to show them how fast they are going and prompt them to slow down if necessary.

Kent County Council (KCC) said the two signs would be installed opposite Holy Trinity CofE Primary School and near the junction with Harebrook.

In June 2025, Colby Hammond, 20, admitted causing death by dangerous driving in the crash which caused Ethan's death.

Since her son's death, Entwistle now runs a speed watch group on the road which aims to get drivers to slow down if they are going over the speed limit.

A KCC spokesperson said the authority was committed to improving road safety across the county.

It added: "We have worked closely with Ramsgate Town Council and Kent Police to address concerns about speeding in Dumpton Park Drive.

"We are pleased to share that two new Vehicle Activated Signs will be installed by the end of March.

"This is part of our proactive approach to support local communities and reduce speeding, alongside enforcement activity by Kent Police."

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