7 years for drink-driver who killed teen in crash

A DRUNK driver who admitted causing the death of a passenger when he crashed into a tree at over 60mph after a night out has been jailed for seven years.

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Ethan Entwistle, who was 18, died when Colby Hammond, 20, lost control of his Seat Ibiza at high speed in Dumpton Park Drive, Broadstairs, on October 1, 2023.

Hammond, who had three passengers in his car at the time of the crash, admitted causing death by dangerous driving when he appeared in court in June.

He had been driving at speeds of up to 75mph on a residential road with a 30mph limit moments before he lost control.

The car hit a tree planted on the side of the road at over 60mph and did “terrible” damage to the passenger seat, where Mr Entwistle was sitting.

At a sentencing hearing at Canterbury Crown Court last Thursday (August 28), the court heard that one of the other passengers had told police it was a “pretty normal thing” for Hammond to drink and drive.

More than 30 of Mr Entwistle’s family and friends came to court to watch proceedings from the well of the court, while a significant number of Hammond’s family and friends watched from the public gallery.